China (MNN) — Nobel Prize
nominee attorney Gao Zhisheng is still being held by the Chinese government.
On February 4, he was arrested
and imprisoned for defending persecuted Christians. While his location and condition
are still unknown, ChinaAid said Zhinsheng is alive. It has been rumored he was
released on parole; however, nothing has been confirmed.
Since mid-July, ChinaAid's "Free
Gao Campaign" has gathered over 110,000 petition signatures, calling for the release
of Zhinsheng from Chinese government custody.
"We thank all 'FreeGao' supporters
for your concerns and contributions, and we ask that you continue to raise
awareness of Gao's case until he is freed, with his full rights as a Chinese
citizen lawfully restored," ChinaAid said in a media release.
In addition to the petition, eleven
U.S. House Representatives wrote a letter to China's President, Hu Jintao, on
September 8. They asked him to uphold the law of China, in the Chinese Constitution
and their international agreement, which would mean the release of Zhisheng
being unlawfully held. To view the bipartisan letter, visit ChinaAid.org.
In the same media release
mentioned above, ChinaAid stated China's response to the petition and letter, "While
the Chinese government has verbally decided to acknowledge the case, there can
be no resolution with his absence and unknown condition still weighing on the
minds and hearts of his supporters."
Though the petition and letter
have not yet brought about his release, ChinaAid said they have prevented the
case from being forgotten.
"Gao's story of persecution is
only one of many. But it is also a key story in exposing the truth behind China's
Communist regime and its abuse of human rights," ChinaAid said.
In the mean ime, the "Free Gao
Campaign" will not stop collecting signatures and showing them to the Chinese
government until Zhinsheng's location is known, and he is once again safe.
To add your name to the number of
petition signatures, click here.
