MAO HENGFENG, Severely beaten, clearly tortured, barely alive from AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL 12AUG11

THE prc's record on human rights is among the worst in the world. Here in the U.S. we have our problems concerning human rights, and the civil rights and civil liberties granted by our constitution and the laws of the nation are under constant attack and too often violated, often by the political extreme right wing. HOWEVER, we can not be compared to the prc in the brutality of the repression of their own people or in the numbers arrested, detained, and tortured by the government in Beijing. Please join Amnesty International in demanding accountability for the torture of human rights activist Mao HengFeng.

	Mao Hengfeng was delivered home from detention unconscious and in a wheelchair.
	The last time Mao Hengfeng was home from jail, the celebration was short-lived. She had roughly two days of freedom before being re-detained on vague charges. Two weeks ago, when Chinese police returned Mao Hengfeng home from her most recent term of "Re-Education through Labor" - it didn't feel right to celebrate at all. She was home, but she was delivered unconscious in a wheelchair...severely beaten...clearly tortured...barely alive1. It gets worse. Shanghai authorities have been known to return detainees to their homes shortly before they die so that they can later wash their hands of all culpability. Because her release was completely unexpected, Mao's husband and family could only expect the worst. I can honestly tell you that some of my happiest moments here at Amnesty International have been the days when a prisoner of conscience is released. Just knowing that they are being reunited with their loved ones makes our work all the more satisfying. But bittersweet doesn't even begin to cover the disgraceful "homecoming" of Mao Hengfeng. Not only should she have never been detained in the first place for voicing her beliefs, but no one - and I mean no one - should ever experience the appalling treatment she did while in detention. Help us demand accountability for the torture and abuse of Mao Hengfeng. For simply demanding political and social change, Chinese authorities have repeatedly arrested this wife and mother of three. Her most recent detention stems from her 2009 protest of the detention of Liu Xiaobo, a prominent human rights defender in China and the recipient of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. She has also been a strong advocate for women's reproductive rights and the victims of forced evictions in Shanghai. We've been told that since being home, Mao's condition has improved slightly. She regained consciousness and has started to walk and talk again slowly. We couldn't be more relieved to hear this news and hope that her progress continues. But even though Mao's condition may continue to improve, Amnesty International will not let her wounds be forgotten. Take action for Mao Hengfeng. Please take action to support this courageous woman's struggle for human rights! Thank You, Michael O'Reilly Senior Campaign Director, Individuals at Risk Amnesty International USA 1. http://blog.amnestyusa.org/women/mao-hengfengs-bittersweet-homecoming		Beaten until she was unconscious No one should ever experience the appalling treatment that human rights defender Mao Hengfeng did while in police custody.
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