born november chinese civil rights activist worked human rights issues rural areas blind early age self taught law frequently described lawyer advocates women rights land rights welfare poor best known accusing people abuses official family planning practices involving claims violence forced gained international recognition organising landmark class action lawsuit authorities excessive enforcement child policy result lawsuit placed house arrest september march formal arrest june august sentenced years months damaging property organising mob traffic released prison serving sentence remained house arrest soft detention home wife reportedly beaten shortly human rights group released video home intense police surveillance february case received sustained international attention british foreign secretary human rights watch issuing appeals release group designated prisoner conscience named time april escaped house arrest fled beijing negotiations chinese government left embassy medical treatment early reported china consider allowing travel united_states study wife children granted departed beijing new_york_city october accepted position conservative research group position early life family youngest brothers peasant family village approximately kilometres city months old lost sight fever destroyed optical nerves interview said family identify organized religion upbringing informed traditional belief virtue present chinese culture buddhist content necessarily believes buddhism village poor families living level went school happy got eat recalled father worked instructor communist_party school earning equivalent annually child father read literary works aloud reportedly helped son appreciation values democracy freedom father gave copy law protecting disabled elaborated legal rights place disabled persons age began attending school grade student city enrolled studied begun developing interest law ask brothers read legal texts earned position family poor borrow cover tuition costs fell short required university authorities reportedly pleaded allowing studied specializing programs available blind legal courses gaining sufficient understanding law allow aid fellow villagers sought assistance graduation returned home region found job hospital met wife listening radio talk called discuss difficulties landing job graduating foreign language department listened program later contacted relayed story blind man living year moved exchange later year traveled village meet couple son born later year second child daughter named violation china child policy working english teacher time marriage left job order assist husband legal work activism petitioned authorities traveled beijing complain taxes incorrectly levied family people disabilities supposed exempt taxation fees complaint successful began individuals disabilities funding british foundation outspoken activist disability rights reputation disability rights advocate solidified agreed advocate elderly blind couple grandchildren suffered family paying regular taxes fees believed law family received government assistance exemption taxation case went court blind citizens surrounding counties attendance solidarity case successful outcome known leaders village began implementing land use plan gave authorities control percent land rented high cost villages plan known field system major source local government studying following year learned program illegal petitioned central authorities beijing end system irritating local officials returned studies village effort confront environmental pollution paper mill constructed dumping toxic river destroying crops wildlife chemicals reportedly caused skin digestive problems villagers living downstream mill organized villagers hometown villages petition mill effort successful resulted suspension paper mill addition contacted british embassy beijing informing situation requesting funding supply clean water locals british government responded providing deep water irrigation systems water march residents village filed petition village government demanding release village accounts hadn public years address issue illegal land village authorities failed respond villagers escalated appeals township county municipal governments response village authorities began publicly threaten villagers november acted behalf villagers file lawsuit local case accepted proceedings began early spent months surveying residents collecting accounts forced late term forced women stood violation china child policy survey based included surrounding rural suburbs later recalled survey significantly larger scope limited lack financial resources chinese central authorities sought curb enforcement child policy replacing measures forced system financial incentives fines found practices remained widespread documented numerous cases abuse women interviewed year old said local officials detained beat relatives indicated released turned submitted forced abortion said later subjected forced help prominent legal scholar conducted interviews later released report claiming estimated residents city forced study sessions refusing violating child policy residents held days weeks study sessions allegedly beaten filed class action lawsuit behalf women city family planning staff june traveled beijing file complaint meet foreign reporters case prior instances chinese citizens filing complaints abuses child policy initiative class action lawsuit challenge implementation suit filed rejected case garnered international media attention responding questions allegation senior official told washington_post practice forced definitely illegal indicated complaints investigated complaints true partly true local officials understand new demands chinese leadership family planning work said official september commission announced officials detained local authorities placing house arrest september embarking campaign undermine reputation officials portrayed working foreign anti china forces pointing received foreign funding advocacy behalf disabled detention trial september beijing class action lawsuit city family planning staff reportedly abducted security agents held hours incident foreign journalists said authorities threatened levy criminal charges providing state secrets intelligence foreign organizations refused negotiations local officials cease activism authorities placed effective house arrest beginning september attempted escape october beaten news agency chinese government stated february instigated damage smash cars belonging town government attack local government officials time reported witnesses protest disputed government version events lawyers argued unlikely committed crimes constant surveillance police removed house march formally detained june officials scheduled stand trial july charges destruction property assembling crowd disrupt traffic delayed request prosecution according prosecution delayed trial crowd supporters gathered outside courthouse days notice authorities rescheduled trial august eve trial lawyers including law firm detained police released questioned lawyers wife allowed courtroom trial authorities appointed public defender trial began trial lasted hours august sentenced years months damaging property organizing mob traffic result trial british foreign secretary selected case cover british government human rights report stating concern handling case calling chinese government prove commitment building rule law globe_and_mail columnist criticized verdict writing assuming damage doors windows cars traffic hours difficult argue year prison sentence offence november court upheld sentence january rejected final appeal court overturned original conviction december citing lack evidence convicted second trial identical charges given identical sentence court following trial declared prisoner conscience jailed solely peaceful activities defence human rights house arrest release prison placed house arrest chinese law closely monitored security forces legally proclaimed government free man reality local government offered explanation hundreds unidentified agents monitoring house preventing visitors escape national propaganda organ expressed confusion issue suggested local government know handle disciplinary action taken national level wife attempted communicate outside world video tape letters letters described wife subjected seizure documents communication devices cutting electric power residence placing metal sheets windows house harassment family continued house arrest extended year old daughter briefly banned attending school toys confiscated guards mother harassed working fields authorities reportedly told spent million million house arrest new_york_times reported number supporters attempted penetrate security monitoring home unsuccessful instances supporters beaten robbed security agents congressman attempted visit november granted permission secretary state hillary_clinton described government alarmed continued detention called china embrace different path human rights watch described house arrest unlawful called authorities freedom december actor attempted visit cnn crew punched denied access chinese security guards later stated wanted meet man shake hand inspiration video footage showed cnn crew having stones thrown pursued minutes escape emigration april escaped house arrest fellow activist stated planning escape long time previously attempted dig tunnel escape weeks leading escape gave guards impression ill bed stopped appearing outside house allowed days absence discovered cover darkness help wife climbed wall house breaking foot process came found guarded crossed stopped later stated believed guards asleep immediate surroundings childhood eventually passed familiar territory later told supporters fell times escape communicating network activists cell phone reached pre determined rendezvous point english teacher activist waiting chain human rights activists escorted beijing activists reported involved detained disappeared days following announcement escape given refuge embassy beijing embassy initially declined confirm deny reports embassy later said accepted humanitarian grounds offered medical assistance april appeared internet video expressed concern authorities carry insane retribution family demands premier local officials allegedly assaulted family prosecuted family safety guaranteed chinese government prosecute corruption cases law new_york_times described situation diplomatic time seeking improve relations china seeks support respect crises iran syria north_korea described escape coming time china leaders dealing high profile corruption scandal resulted removal member hours phrases blind man blocked chinese online effort quell internet discussion case day announced escape chinese state media carry single line news referring new_york_times wrote news escape electrified china rights activists negotiations exit embassy assistant secretary state quietly arrived beijing april negotiations representatives china days media speculation whereabouts confirmed diplomatic protection embassy according embassy representatives agreement chinese authorities provided freed soft detention relocated permitted finish legal education law schools china chinese officials promised investigate extra legal activities taken province authorities family left embassy accord reunited family admitted beijing medical treatment initial negotiations embassy request asylum united_states considered leaving china instead demanded remain free man soon leaving embassy feared chinese authorities promises actions family members hospital chinese security personnel barred diplomatic staff meeting rumors emerged chinese officials leaving embassy threatening family stated embassy told chinese officials sought asylum united_states wife daughter likely remain house arrest maintained heard threats local officials family beaten communicated message clarified bbc aware threats family leaving embassy point changed mind wishing stay china spokesperson china demanded apologize incident investigate acts interfere china domestic matters way editorial described tool american politicians china daily accused ambassador stirring trouble questioned motives clear desire leave china united_states chinese foreign ministry spokesperson indicated wished study abroad apply normal channels relevant departments accordance law like chinese citizen day offered visiting scholar position wife children having granted departed beijing commercial flight newark new_jersey treatment family associates living house arrest family members reportedly faced harassment confinement authorities elderly mother recalled continuously followed security agents bbc reported remained house arrest leaving china spring expressed concern relatives activists helped evade capture punished chinese officials departure april soon escaped house arrest security agents forced entry home eldest brother believing elder brother information escape police took police station interrogation reportedly feet struck belt police officers allegedly returned family home proceeded beat wife son son pulled knife officers causing minor injuries taken custody faces criminal charges attempted murder reported escaped beijing guarded village advocate behalf son november sentenced years prison november said fly new_york_city mother days later reunion brother united_states following arrival wife couple children settled housing complex students faculty located reportedly began studying english hours day addition having regular meetings american legal scholars memoir lawyer published march published editorial new_york_times criticizing chinese government communist_party punishment inflicted family past seven years said handled case able openly nation laws ways years april testimony said chinese authorities failed deliver promises investigate allegations family issued statement june saying forcing leave end june pressure chinese government claim denied university professor mentor arranged placement close association conservative christian pro life figures coming united_states including representative pastor media consultant concerned old supporters like october accepted offer princeton new_jersey opposes abortion gay marriage serve distinguished senior fellow human rights visiting fellow october public appearance role distinguished senior fellow delivered public lecture princeton_university entitled china world 21st century sponsored james madison program institutions text speech translated english published online speech called american people support chinese people fighting oppressive communist government china reminded audience small actions undertaken defense human rights large impact person infinite strength action important impact believe value actions awards recognition began attracting international media attention civil rights activism early 2000s march newsweek magazine ran cover story lawyer movement china detailing advocacy behalf villagers disabled profile rose filed landmark class action suit taking abuses child policy named time time annual list men women power talent moral example transforming world citation stated lost sight child legal vision helped plight thousands chinese villagers later year won award detention award called asian nobel prize bestowed passion justice leading ordinary chinese citizens assert legitimate rights law according aids activist wife attempted attend award ceremony husband behalf passport revoked mobile phone confiscated chinese authorities honored democracy award seven chinese lawyers civil rights activists named recipients award chosen recipient new_york based explaining choice organization president stated activism international conversation need protect human rights lawyers world face great danger courageous work received geneva summit courage award
Chen Guangcheng