Front Line is deeply concerned following the arrest and detention of human rights defender Ren Shangyan on 16 May 2008. Ren Shangyan is Assistant Director of China Justice Advocacy Web (Zhonghua Shenzheng Wang), a website which has worked to monitor corruption in China since 2005.

Further Information

Posted 29/05/2008 On 16 May 2008, at approximately 4.00pm, Ren Shangyan was arrested by twelve police officers of Shuangyashan Public Security Bureau (SPSB) in Shuangyashan City, Heilongjiang Province. She had been investigating accusations against Wang Yijun, Vice-Chief of the Anti-Corruption Bureau under the Procuratorate of Lingdong District, Shuangyashan City.

In March 2008, China Justice Advocacy's website was temporarily closed by the internet police in Sichuan province when investigations into the case were begun. In 2007, the website was repeatedly blocked following various reports on corruption cases in Shanghai.

Front Line believes that Ren Shangyan has been targeted because of her legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular her work to monitor corruption in China. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Ren Shangyan.