37 EU politicians demand Beijing ‘unconditionally’ release detained Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai
In a strongly-worded letter to President Xi Jinping, they condemn Gui’s arrest and say that while they value close ties with China, it will not be at the expense of their citizens’ safety
Thirty-seven members of the European Parliament on Thursday demanded President Xi Jinping “immediately and unconditionally” release detained Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai, insisting that while they valued closer ties with China, they would not sacrifice their citizens’ safety.
“[The members] are writing to express our strong condemnation of the arrest and continued detention of Swedish citizen Gui Minhai, and to urge you to immediately and unconditionally release him,” a letter released on Friday morning, Hong Kong time, said.
“Pending his release, we urge you to ensure he is protected from torture and other ill-treatment, allowed access to diplomatic staff, his family and lawyers of his choice, and to adequate medical care.”
Earlier this month, China’s Ministry of Public Security confirmed it had detained Gui. It arranged for him to meet several mainland, Taiwanese and Hong Kong media, including the South China Morning Post, at a detention facility in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.
In the 20-minute interview, Gui said he had requested the meeting because he wanted to tell the public the “truth” after the Swedish government had “sensationalised” events.