Hu Jia, one of the mainland's most high-profile dissidents, said he was questioned by police for more than seven hours yesterday and warned that he could be detained again if he continues campaigning on behalf of fellow activists.
Hu, who was released in June after serving a 3 1/2-year prison sentence on subversion charges, was summoned by police and accused of violating the conditions of his release.
Hu was subjected to a year of 'deprivation of political rights' upon his release. Under the terms, he was barred from giving press interviews, protesting or publicising his views.
However, he has since posted messages on Twitter calling for the release of jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo and his wife Liu Xia, who is under house arrest; blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng, who is confined to his house with his family and cannot be contacted; and rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who was recently sent back to prison after disappearing for 20 months.
Hu has also urged his internet followers to show their support to these activists. 'They were targeting the opinions I expressed on the internet, mainly about these three cases,' he said. 'They sternly warned me that if I didn't stop I could be given 15 days of detention ... [but] I told them I have the constitutional right to openly criticise [the government].'
When he was released from jail, Hu was warned that if he continued pursuing his rights activities he could be sent back to jail for more than 10 years for being a repeat offender, on the charge of 'inciting subversion of state power'.