Beijing, China - [Gao Zhiyi, Gao Zhisheng’s Brother]:
“I think of him at night and I can’t sleep, how can I not think of him. I know his situation is not too good, there is no trace of him, one would surely think of him, I think of him a lot.”
There is still no trace of Chinese rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng. On August 14th, 2006 Gao was sentenced to three years in prison and five years probation. Now five years are up and Gao should be free.
Gao Zhisheng is a self-taught Christian lawyer. He was once considered one of the top ten lawyers in China. He took on some of the most sensitive cases in the country, often on a pro bono basis, winning rare victories against authorities.
[Mark Shan, China Aid Spokesperson]:
“He was not only trying to defend religious freedom for those in the Christian house church movement, for those victims of land eviction, he also defended those Falun Gong practitioners.”
Falun Gong is a spiritual group banned by the Chinese regime in 1999, it remains one of the most persecuted groups in China. More than 3,400 deaths due to persecution and over 63 thousand cases of torture have been documented so far.
It was Gao’s defense of Falun Gong that led to a clampdown by authorities. In 2005 the Chinese regime shut down Gao’s law firm in Beijing. Since 2006 Gao was in and out of custody suffering from torture himself. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Mark Shan of China Aid, a U.S.-based Chinese Christian organization, says it’s no surprise Gao hasn’t been released.
[Mark Shan, China Aid Spokesperson]:
“We know how the Chinese government has treated Gao Zhisheng, as almost like the number one or number two enemy of the nation. So we don’t think they can let him go so easily. So it’s not a surprise at all.”
Gao’s detention has taken its toll on his family. Gao’s wife, son and daughter managed to escape China in 2009 and now live in the United States. Gao’s daughter has been hit especially hard by his absence.
[Geng He, Gao Zhisheng’s Wife]:
“When we go to the home of friends from church, and my daughter sees a father with his daughter, carrying a musical instrument and the mother is also present, she can’t take it. She stands up and wants to walk out... So I know that when my daughter sees that warm, caring image of a whole family, it arouses deep feelings of past memories.”
Vice president of the European Parliament, Edward McMillan-Scott, wrote a letter to Gao’s wife on August 12th where he expressed admiration for Gao Zhisheng. He wrote Gao “will one day be part of China’s future.”
China Aid hopes the U.S. vice president can also play a role in securing Gao’s freedom.
[Mark Shan, China Aid Spokesperson]:
“We hope the vice president of America, Biden, he is visiting China this week, so we hope he can raise this issue as one important thing.”
Gao has now been missing for 923 days. Almost 150 thousand people have signed a petition calling for his release.