Beijing Public Security Officials Formally Arrest Activist Hu Jia

May 5, 2008

Beijing public security officials formally arrested activist Hu Jia on charges of "inciting subversion of state power," according to a February 1 Radio Free Asia (RFA) article and a January 31 report in the Dui Hua Foundation's Human Rights Journal. Beijing public security officials detained Hu on December 27, 2007. On January 30, officials served Hu's family with an arrest notice and officials allowed Hu's father to visit him on January 31, according to the Dui Hua report and a February 3 RFA article.

Beijing public security officials formally arrested activist Hu Jia on charges of "inciting subversion of state power," according to a February 1 Radio Free Asia (RFA) article and a January 31 report in the Dui Hua Foundation's Human Rights Journal. Beijing public security officials detained Hu on December 27, 2007. On January 30, officials served Hu's family with an arrest notice and officials allowed Hu's father to visit him on January 31, according to the Dui Hua report and a February 3 RFA article. The Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau previously denied lawyer Li Jinsong's reconsideration request (posted on Boxun on January 8) to allow Hu to meet with his lawyers, citing the involvement of state secrets in the case, according to a January 25 RFA article. The same article reports that officials also denied Li's application (posted on Boxun on January 15) for Hu to obtain a guarantor pending trial, a process similar to bail, on the grounds that it could "endanger society." Officials have continued to harass individuals connected to Hu and those who attempt to visit the residence of Hu and his wife, Zeng Jinyan, according to the RFA articles dated February 1 and February 3.

For additional information on Hu's detention, see a previous CECC analysis and Hu's record of detention, searchable through the CECC's Political Prisoner Database.