NEW YORK—Several Chinese organizations launched a global petition called “Looking for Gao Zhisheng,” on Oct. 20. Their goal is to rescue the prominent Chinese human rights lawyer from the Chinese communist regime. The groups urged President Obama to help free Mr. Gao when he visits China in November.
The China Interim Government, the Chinese Social Democratic Party in the U.S., the Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and other concerned groups held a seminar on Oct. 20 in Flushing, New York, calling for people to join the rescue effort.
Known as “China’s Conscience,” lawyer Gao Zhisheng has previously been arrested and tortured for defending Falun Gong practitioners and house Christians—two groups persecuted by the Chinese regime. He has been missing since security agents abducted him on Feb. 4. His whereabouts are unknown.
Gao’s wife, Geng He, published an open letter on Oct. 3 titled, “Gao Zhisheng, my husband and the father of my children—where are you?” She wrote that she and her children have worried terribly about Gao because they had not heard anything from him for 10 months, and do not know if he is alive.
The Chinese Embassy recently told John Kamm, founder and executive director of the Dui Hua (“dialogue") Foundation that “Gao is not being mistreated, is fine” and is not being subjected to “compulsory legal measures.”
The regime has not answered queries on his whereabouts.
Letter urging President Obama to rescue Gao
“Even Gao’s wife and children don’t know where he is. This cannot continue,” seminar host Mr. Tang Boqiao, told the attendees.
“In the land of China under the rule of the Communist regime, a most well-known human rights lawyer has just evaporated from the world. What an irony this is to the world’s civilized society. We need to spread this message far and wide,” said Mr. Tang.
Mr. Tang also said a letter has been sent to President Obama urging him to help free Mr. Gao when he visits China in the coming months.
