Liu Xia, the widow of the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, arrived in Berlin, having left Beijing after almost eight years of living under house arrest.
Despite facing no charges, the 57-year-old poet has endured heavy restrictions on her movements since 2010 when her husband won the Nobel Peace Prize, an award that infuriated Beijing. Her husband, Liu Xiaobo, died of liver cancer last July at 61. He was a writer, critic, and activist who called for political reforms and an end to the one-party rule in China.
China's Foreign Ministry said Liu Xia was allowed to leave for "medical treatment in Germany."
Liu Xia is now free; however, her brother, Liu, Hui, remains under house arrest. Hui was convicted of fraud in 2013 and sentenced to 11 years in prison in a case that human rights groups believe was brought up in retaliation for the attention his brother-in-law received for the Nobel Peace Prize. Hui been released on medical parole, a lesser criminal law restraint, but it can be revoked by the authorities at any time.
Endangered Scholars Worldwide welcomes the news of Liu Xia's freedom with great relief. However, we remain concerned about Xia’s brother, Liu Hui, and hope that Chinese authorities allow him to join Liu Xia in Germany. We urge Chinese authorities to respect, guarantee, and implement the provisions and principles of human rights as specified in international conventions and treaties.