Artist is held over 'economic crimes'
Source: Agencies |
April 8, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA confirmed yesterday that it has detained a renowned artist who had been missing for four days but insisted his case involves "economic crimes" and not human rights.
Ai Weiwei, an internationally famed avant-garde artist, was last seen early Sunday in police custody after he was barred from boarding a flight to Hong Kong at a Beijing airport.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news conference yesterday that police were investigating Ai for unspecified economic crimes.
"It has nothing to do with human rights or freedom of expression," Hong said.
"Ai Weiwei is suspected of economic crimes, and the public security authorities are conducting an investigation. China is a country under the rule of law, and relevant authorities will work according to the law," he said.
Hong did not answer questions on what exact crime Ai is accused of, and he gave no other details.
Ai is among China's best-known artists internationally and recently exhibited at the Tate Modern gallery in London.
In a letter to the Beijing police yesterday, his wife, Lu Qing, demanded to know why her husband had been detained, his whereabouts and condition, and also whether police would be giving her legal documents on his detention.
Under Chinese law, police are supposed to notify families when detaining a suspect for longer than 24 hours.
"As of 8am today, it has been 96 hours since Ai Weiwei was taken away, and I haven't heard a single word about him," she wrote.
Ai Weiwei, an internationally famed avant-garde artist, was last seen early Sunday in police custody after he was barred from boarding a flight to Hong Kong at a Beijing airport.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular news conference yesterday that police were investigating Ai for unspecified economic crimes.
"It has nothing to do with human rights or freedom of expression," Hong said.
"Ai Weiwei is suspected of economic crimes, and the public security authorities are conducting an investigation. China is a country under the rule of law, and relevant authorities will work according to the law," he said.
Hong did not answer questions on what exact crime Ai is accused of, and he gave no other details.
Ai is among China's best-known artists internationally and recently exhibited at the Tate Modern gallery in London.
In a letter to the Beijing police yesterday, his wife, Lu Qing, demanded to know why her husband had been detained, his whereabouts and condition, and also whether police would be giving her legal documents on his detention.
Under Chinese law, police are supposed to notify families when detaining a suspect for longer than 24 hours.
"As of 8am today, it has been 96 hours since Ai Weiwei was taken away, and I haven't heard a single word about him," she wrote.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
