Rome, 30th April 2012
Cardinal Renato Raffaele
Martino, Honorary President of the Rome-based Dignitatis Humanae
Institute and Lord Alton, Chairman of the British Parliament's
Cross-Party Working Group on Human Dignity, today met to discuss the
situation of blind Chinese lawyer Chen Guangcheng.
The self-taught lawyer,
who sought sanctuary in the US Embassy in Beijing over the weekend
after escaping six years of house imprisonment, remains separated
from his family, members of whom have been taken into custody.
As talks between Chinese
and US officials continue, Lord Alton urged China to show compassion
on humanitarian grounds for Chen and his family, and asked for them
all to be allowed to leave for the United States, to receive medical
treatment (as previously happened with the case of Fang Lizhi):
Lord Alton said: "Chen
Guangcheng and his family have a number of well-known medical issues
that would reasonably justify a decision, on humanitarian grounds, to
allow them to travel to the United States or Europe for medical
treatment."
Despite losing his sight
at an early age, Chen Guangcheng managed to teach himself law and has
become an international icon in his native China, and around the
world. After a period in prison ended in 2010, Chen remained under
house arrest until he fled to the US Embassy for sanctuary on 22
April.
Cardinal Martino added:
"With a decision on Chen's future likely to be decided in the
next week, the Dignitatis Humanae Institute appeals for compassion
and mercy for Chen and his family."
