Human rights defender Mr Hu Jia is seriously ill in detention in Beijing City Prison Hospital. Hu Jia was sentenced to three and a half years in prison on 3 April 2008 for 'inciting subversion'.

Further Information

Hu Jia has worked on AIDS issues, environmental concerns and has consistently highlighted human rights abuses in China. He is also the co-founder of the Beijing Aizhixing Institute for Health Education, a non-governmental organisation which promotes public awareness and education on the issue of HIV/ AIDS. In 2008 Hu Jia won the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Front Line previously issued appeals in relation to Hu Jia on 19 March 2008 and 15 June 2004.

Hu Jia was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver in 2006 and since beginning his jail term, Hu Jia's health has steadily deteriorated. On 30 March 2010, Hu Jia was transferred from Beijing City Prison to Beijing City Prison Hospital where he underwent tests on his liver to determine whether indications of cancer existed. Previous examinations showed that he had a 3cm growth on his liver. Since then he has remained in the prison hospital, but the results of the tests have not been made known to his family. Doctors had assured his wife, Zeng Jinyan, that they would inform her of the results by 2 April. Whatever the results of the tests, Hu Jia's health remains a serious concern.

According to Zeng Jinyan, over the last two years in prison, Hu Jia has experienced a variety of ailments due to poor nutrition and bad living conditions. Zeng Jinyan has applied to prison officials in Beijing for Hu Jia's parole on medical grounds. A similar application made in June 2008 was rejected.

Chinese government regulations concerning the release of prisoners on medical parole state that those with life-threatening illnesses are eligible for medical parole at any time. Prisoners with chronic diseases which have worsened over time despite treatment may apply for parole after serving one third of their sentence. Hu Jia fulfills both of these requirements.

Hu Jia was detained on 27 December 2007 after giving his public testimony to the European Parliament in which he gave details of human rights violations reportedly being committed in China. He was officially arrested on 30 January 2008 and charged with “incitement to subvert state power”. Following his arrest his wife, Zeng Jinyan, and his daughter were reportedly prevented from leaving their apartment in Beijing.

Front Line believes that Hu Jia has been targeted as a result of his legitimate human rights activities, in particular his work to defend the rights of those suffering from HIV/ AIDS in China. Front Line fears for the physical and psychological integrity of Hu Jia in detention.