Journalists Imprisoned in 2017 - Ding Lingjie
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 31 December 2017 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Journalists Imprisoned in 2017 - Ding Lingjie, 31 December 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a5c940ba.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Minsheng Guancha | Imprisoned in China | September 22, 2017
| Job: | Editor, Internet Reporter |
| Medium: | Internet |
| Beats Covered: | Human Rights |
| Gender: | Female |
| Local or Foreign: | Local |
| Freelance: | No |
| Charge: | No charge |
| Length of Sentence: | Not Sentenced |
| Reported Health Problems: | No |
Police detained Ding Lingjie, an editor of the human rights news website Minsheng Guancha, while she was visiting relatives in Zibo city, Shandong province, on September 22, 2017, according to media reports. When Ding's relative came home on September 23, she found that the house had been raided and that Ding, along with her computer, cellphone, and other belongings, was missing.
When Ding's family called the local police station to report her missing, a police officer told the family that the Shijingshan branch of the Beijing municipal police had detained the journalist, according to Xu Qin, an independent human rights researcher who started "Ding Lingjie Watch," a microblog discussion group on WeChat to raise public awareness of Ding's disappearance.
When CPJ called the Zichuan police station in Zibo, the officer who answered the phone immediately hung up at the mention of CPJ's name. CPJ called the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau's Shijingshan Branch for comment, and again the police officer who answered the call hung up at the mention of CPJ.
Ding's brother, Ding Lingxi, told CPJ on September 30 that he had not received any warrant nor explanation from police as to why his sister was detained. According to Radio Free Asia, Ding's lawyer Ren Quanniu requested to meet with his client after learning that Ding might be detained at the Shijingshan Detention Center. Although Ren's first request was rejected by authorities, on November 8, authorities finally allowed Ding to meet with her lawyer, according to the Radio Free Asia report. Ren told Radio Free Asia that Ding suffers from hyperostosis and that authorities told him the reason for the arrest was that Ding "insulted the state leader."
