China is preventing embassy officials from speaking to a Swedish human rights worker it is holding, the group he works for said yesterday, adding that he requires regular medical care for a potentially life-threatening illness.
Peter Dahlin was detained last week on the way to Beijing’s international airport on suspicion of endangering state security, the Chinese Urgent Action Working Group said in a statement.
His girlfriend, a Chinese national, is also missing, it added.
The group said it supports ‘barefoot’ lawyers who provide pro-bono legal aid to grassroots victims of rights violations, from demolition and eviction to arbitrary detention.
“Despite constant requests by the Swedish Embassy, the Chinese authorities have denied direct contact with Peter and have not provided any communications from Peter to the embassy,” the statement said. “Peter suffers from Addison’s Disease, a rare defect of the adrenal gland, which is potentially life threatening unless properly medicated daily.”
The group cited Chinese authorities as saying Dahlin was detained on Monday last week on suspicion of endangering state security.
Sweden’s embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the issue of access.
In an e-mail on Tuesday, the embassy said that “a Swedish citizen, man in his mid-thirties, has been detained in China,” adding it was “investigating.”
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has stepped up a campaign against outspoken academics, lawyers and human rights activists, which has seen hundreds detained and dozens jailed.
It has also drafted a new law that would put overseas non-governmental organizations (NGOs) under close supervision by Chinese police while operating in the country.
Chinese state-run media often accuse foreign NGOs of undermining national security and trying to foment “color revolution” against the CCP.
China also introduced a new “national security” law in July that was criticized by rights groups for the vague wording of its references to “security,” which raised fears it could give police wide-ranging discretionary powers over civil society.
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