Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Human rights activist Fan Yanqiong was taken into police custody in Fuzhou (Fujian) on 26 June after she posted articles online alleging official misconduct and cover-ups in the case of a young woman’s death in Minqing County, Fujian Province. A man who reportedly assisted her, Chen Huanhui, and his wife, Xue Yun, were also arrested on 28 June.
A human rights network, Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD), reports that last Friday Ms Fan was seized by a dozen or more Fujian policemen whilst investigating another case at the home of Huang Caipiao.
Huang’s home and the home of his relative, where Fan was staying during her investigation, were both searched. Police confiscated some of their belongings, including a computer and Huang’s petitions.
Chen Huanhui and his wife Xue Yun were arrested two days later and taken to Fuzhou City Public Security Bureau (PSB) Mawei District Detention Center.
Chen sent SMS messages to friends notifying them of his detention in which he stated that Fan was also being held in the same location.
Chen’s family later said that they eventually received a formal detention notice, stating that Chen had been detained on suspicion of “libel” for helping Fan.
In her articles Fan alleged that Yan died after she was gang raped by men connected to county officials and that the authorities have sheltered those involved by ignoring the parents’ repeated demands for a criminal investigation.
The articles have received wide attention by netizens in China because they touch a raw nerve, that of corruption in high places at the expense of ordinary citizens.
On June 29, Fujian police searched Fan’s home and confiscated two computers, two bank deposit books and 300 print copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, her husband said.
For more than ten years Fan, 48, has exposed official corruption, and documented rights abuses.
According to the CHRD, for her efforts Fan has been repeatedly threatened by the authorities as well as organised crime.