Shi Tao - China
In April 2004, Chinese journalist Shi Tao used his Yahoo! email account to send a message to a U.S.-based pro-democracy website. In his email, he summarized a government order directing media organizations in China to downplay the upcoming 15th anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Tiananmen Square. Police arrested him in November 2004, charging him with "illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities." Authorities used email account information supplied by Yahoo! to convict Shi Tao in April 2005 and sentence him to 10 years in prison.
China's vaguely-worded legal definition of what constitutes a "state secret" gives authorities broad discretion to detain people who peacefully exercise their right to free expression. China has constructed an extensive system of Internet censorship to silence activists and journalists like Shi Tao. All Internet communications pass through government-controlled routers, and authorities are able to block access to many sites, to filter content, and to delete links or web pages considered "dangerous" or "subversive."
Shi Tao (pronounced "shur taow"), a published poet and essayist, is currently held at Deshan Prison in Changde city, Hunan Province. Shi Tao was first held in Chishan Prison, where he was reportedly forced to labor under harsh conditions. His family has been harassed by the authorities. His wife underwent daily questioning by security officials and she eventually divorced Shi Tao after experiencing persistent pressure from her work unit. Shi Tao's uncle and brother have been under surveillance and harassed both at work and at home. His mother has also reportedly been monitored and harassed.
Amnesty International considers Shi Tao to be a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression, a right protected in international law and the Chinese constitution.
