China detains publisher who voiced support for Communist Party critic Xu Zhangrun

Geng Xiaonan and her husband Qin Zhen, who run Ruiya Books, are being held in Beijing, accused of operating an ‘illicit business’, their lawyer says

But dissident academic Xu believes they have been detained because Geng ‘has spoken out against the injustice I have suffered’

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Geng Xiaonan and her husband Qin Zhen, who run Ruiya Books, were taken away by police on Wednesday, according to their lawyer. Photo: Handout

Published: 10:27pm, 10 Sep 2020Updated: 2:08am, 11 Sep 2020

A prominent publisher who has voiced support for dissident academic Xu Zhangrun has been detained by Beijing police for allegedly running “an illicit business” along with her husband, their lawyer said on Thursday.

Geng Xiaonan, founder of privately run publishing company Ruiya Books, was taken away by police on Wednesday, according to her lawyer Shang Baojun.

Her husband Qin Zhen, who has run the company with Geng since 2002, was also detained.

According to Shang, the couple are being held at the Haidian District Detention Centre.

“Police told Qin’s brother that they are suspected of running an illicit business operation,” Shang said, adding that the couple’s family had not yet received an official notice confirming the detention.

Attempts to contact Beijing police on Thursday for verification were not successful and calls to Geng and her company went unanswered.

Law professor Xu Zhangrun lost his job at Tsinghua University after criticising the Communist Party leadership. Photo: Sohu

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