Advertisement

Aug. 7, 2014 / 4:09 PM

China releases dissident and human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng from jail

China has released prominent dissident and human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.

A Chinese SWAT team is stationed at the entrance of Tianjin's high-speed railway station on July 28, 2014. (UPI/Stephen Shaver)

A Chinese SWAT team is stationed at the entrance of Tianjin's high-speed railway station on July 28, 2014. (UPI/Stephen Shaver) | License Photo

BEIJING, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Chinese dissident and human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was released from jail on Thursday after serving three years in prison.

Gao was arrested in 2009 and accused of inciting subversion. He was released in 2010 but after claiming torture during his detention, Gao disappeared. In 2011, state media reported Gao had been sentenced to three years in prison for probation violations.

Advertisement

His release was expected.

In late July, U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary Tom Malinowksi issued a plea for "Chinese authorities to release Gao as scheduled on August 7th and allow him to return to his family, without harassment or restrictions to his movement."

Following his release on Thursday, Gao returned to his father-in-law's home in Urumqi. However, it is unclear whether the human rights lawyer, originally from China's restive region of Xinjiang, will be allowed to move freely inside China.

Read More

Trans-rights advocates decry Scottish clinic's decision to stop puberty blockers for children

World News // 3 hours ago

Trans-rights advocates decry Scottish clinic's decision to stop puberty blockers for children

April 18 (UPI) -- Scotland's only gender clinic has paused hormone treatment for patients younger than 18 following a landmark review of the treatment.

U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran drone program in response to Israel attack

World News // 8 hours ago

U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran drone program in response to Israel attack

April 18 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden Thursday announced new Iran sanctions for the drone and missile attack on Israel.

London Met Police infiltrate company that helped phishing cybercriminals

World News // 8 hours ago

London Met Police infiltrate company that helped phishing cybercriminals

April 18 (UPI) -- London's Metropolitan Police said on Thursday they have infiltrated a global online fraud service called LabHost, used by more than 2,000 cybercriminals to create fake websites to trick unwitting users out of money and v

Extreme temperatures in Sahel impossible without man-made warming, study finds

World News // 9 hours ago

Extreme temperatures in Sahel impossible without man-made warming, study finds

April 18 (UPI) -- A extreme once-in-a-century heatwave in Africa's Sahel and western regions that saw temperatures soar to a high as 48.5 degrees Celsius at the end of March and early April was caused by human-induced climate change.

Qatar is conducting a 'comprehensive evaluation' of its Gaza mediation role

World News // 9 hours ago

Qatar is conducting a 'comprehensive evaluation' of its Gaza mediation role

April 18 (UPI) -- Qatar's Prime Minister said Wednesday he is reassessing his country's mediation role to end the Gaza war and release the hostages because some are politically exploiting the efforts and defaming Qatar's role.

Germany arrests 2 over spying on U.S. bases for Russia

World News // 10 hours ago

Germany arrests 2 over spying on U.S. bases for Russia

April 18 (UPI) -- Two men with dual German-Russian citizenship were arrested this week in a suspected plot to sabotage two U.S. military bases in the country in connection with its support of Ukraine, prosecutors said.

8 World Food Program trucks cross into Gaza on new route

World News // 12 hours ago

8 World Food Program trucks cross into Gaza on new route

April 18 (UPI) -- The first U.N. World Food Program trucks since the opening of Israel's Ashdod port to international humanitarian aid shipments crossed into the Gaza strip, the Israeli military said.

World Bank announces plan to provide electricity access to 300M Africans

World News // 14 hours ago

World Bank announces plan to provide electricity access to 300M Africans

April 18 (UPI) -- The World Bank has announced a partnership with its African counterpart that aims to provide at least 300 million people in the continent with electricity by the end of the decade.

China denounces U.S. shipbuilding probe as politically motivated 'mistake'

World News // 15 hours ago

China denounces U.S. shipbuilding probe as politically motivated 'mistake'

April 18 (UPI) -- China late Wednesday called on the United States to end its investigation into its shipbuilding industry, denouncing the probe as a politically motivated "mistake."

State Department invites 22 countries for some hip-hop diplomacy

World News // 1 day ago

State Department invites 22 countries for some hip-hop diplomacy

April 17 (UPI) -- The State Department is doing some hip-hop diplomacy through April 26 in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Chapel Hill, N.C., exploring how the music genre has promoted peace and positive social change.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement