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China stops access to Swedish campaigner

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
China stops access to Swedish campaigner
File photo of Beijing airport, where Dahlin was heading when he disappeared. Photo: AP/Greg Baker/TT

UPDATED: Chinese authorities are holding a Swedish citizen on suspicion of endangering national security, Beijing confirmed on Wednesday, as it appeared he had been caught up in a crackdown on human rights lawyers.

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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 sent to the AFP news agency.

His girlfriend, a Chinese national, is also missing, it added.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that a "Swedish citizen, Peter, is subject to criminal law enforcement in Beijing on suspicion of endangering China's national security". 

Dahlin's organisation, also known as China Action, 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 January 4th 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 email Tuesday the embassy said that "a Swedish citizen, man in his mid-thirties, has been detained in China," adding it was "investigating".

China's ruling Communist Party under President Xi Jinping 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 organisations 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 "colour revolution" against the Communist Party.

China also introduced a new "national security" law in July that was criticised 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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