Liu Xiaobo’s widow allowed to spend Christmas Eve with brother, Hong Kong human rights group says
Liu Xia takes in decorative lights in Beijing while about 50 people in Hong Kong protest against her house arrest
Liu Xia, widow of China’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, was able to get out of her home and enjoy decorative lighting in Beijing on Christmas Eve with her younger brother, a Hong Kong-based human rights group said on Monday.
The Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy contacted Liu by phone shortly after noon on Christmas Day. Liu, who has been under house arrest since 2010 despite not being formally charged with a crime, was initially good spirits, according to the centre’s founder, Frank Lu Siqing, who spoke to her for about 15 minutes.
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It was the first time the centre had spoke to Liu since November 4. The centre has tried to maintain contact with Liu since September after friends and supporters became concerned about her welfare following her husband’s death from liver cancer in July.
Lu said on the centre’s website that he heard Liu laugh after he greeted her with “Merry Christmas”.
Liu told him that she has been taking medication for depression and went out with her younger brother Liu Hui on Christmas Eve.
Lu responded by advising Liu to try to come to Hong Kong during Chinese Lunar New Year in February. “You have never been to Hong Kong. You may feel happier here,” Lu told her.
