Chinese Official Says Missing Human Rights Lawyer Is ‘Where He Should Be’
A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry says a missing human rights lawyer “is where he should be” following a judicial proceeding.
The missing lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, has taken on cases advocating reform and involving the banned Falun Gong spiritual group, the Associated Press reports. A memoir describes his past torture by government security forces. Gao was detained in February, but friends and family were given no information about the case, according to the Wall Street Journal blog China Real Time Report.
In a press conference on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu was asked about Gao’s disappearance, AP says. “The relevant judicial authorities have decided this case, and we should say this person, according to Chinese law, is where he should be,” Ma replied.
A Wall Street Journal opinion column published last week aired speculation by some observers that Gao may have died at the hands of police.
