International solidarity with chinese workers, activists and unionists arrested
6 February 2016, 12:13
"We’re worried that they’re still detained," Ms Feng told AP news agency. "We don’t understand how this has to do with public safety. And this goes against what the Communist Party and the government says they want to do to build a safer, crime-free society."
This year’s International Women’s Day coincided with China’s top political meetings and observers say Chinese authorities often detain activists before the start of major political or international meetings.
Eight women’s rights activists were taken to police stations on Friday and Saturday, and three were released after a few hours.
One of those released told the BBC that the police told her to warn people not to take part in planned events.
Among the activities which the activists had planned were a march in a Beijing park where participants would wear stickers advocating safe sex and action against sexual harassment; and gatherings in Beijing and Guangzhou calling for awareness of sexual harassment on buses.
She added that the five who are still in detention are either members, or founders, of women’s rights and gay rights groups in Beijing, Hangzhou and Guangzhou.
"We’re worried that they’re still detained," Ms Feng told AP news agency. "We don’t understand how this has to do with public safety. And this goes against what the Communist Party and the government says they want to do to build a safer, crime-free society."
This year’s International Women’s Day coincided with China’s top political meetings and observers say Chinese authorities often detain activists before the start of major political or international meetings.
Eight women’s rights activists were taken to police stations on Friday and Saturday, and three were released after a few hours.
One of those released told the BBC that the police told her to warn people not to take part in planned events.
Among the activities which the activists had planned were a march in a Beijing park where participants would wear stickers advocating safe sex and action against sexual harassment; and gatherings in Beijing and Guangzhou calling for awareness of sexual harassment on buses.
She added that the five who are still in detention are either members, or founders, of women’s rights and gay rights groups in Beijing, Hangzhou and Guangzhou.