China cracks down on dissidents despite dissident getting Nobel Peace Prize

BEIJING - China has defied widespread international criticism and continued its crackdown on human rights activists and lawyers despite one of its dissident citizens receiving the coveted Nobel Peace prize.

Jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was named this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner three weeks ago, but the Chinese government’s crackdown on dissidents continues, the Washington Post reports.

The crackdown includes confining some to their homes, following and harassing others and alleged secret detentions.

This has prompted calls for President Obama and other leaders to raise the issue of Liu’s release and human rights in general with Chinese President Hu Jintao during an upcoming summit in Seoul.

Liu, 54, a prominent writer, professor and veteran of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy movement, was sentenced in December to 11 years in prison for his role in promoting Charter 08, an online manifesto and petition calling for greater freedom and an end to one-party rule in China.

Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ma Zhaoxu, said, “Liu Xiaobo is a criminal who violated Chinese law.” (ANI)