URGENT

ACTION: STATEMENT ON THE DETENTION OF PETER DAHLIN

CHINA - Detention of human rights professional Peter Dahlin

Sometime after nine pm on 3 January 2016 a human rights professional, Mr Peter Dahlin, a
Swedish citizen, disappeared on his way to the Beijing Capital Airport. He was scheduled to fly
to Thailand via Hong Kong shortly after midnight. Peters girlfriend, a Chinese national, has also
disappeared.
Peter Dahlin is a co-founder of the Chinese Urgent Action Working Group (China Action), an
organization based in China working to promote the development of the rule of law and human
rights through training and the support of public interest litigation.
According to Chinese authorities, Peter was detained on 4 January 2016 on suspicion of
endangering state security. These charges are baseless.
Since 2009, China Action has been helping to advance the rule of law in China. It has organized
training programs for human rights defenders to receive instruction from expert rights lawyers,
focusing on matters of land rights or administrative law. It supports barefoot lawyers who
provide pro-bono legal aid to grassroots victims of rights violations, from demolition and eviction
to arbitrary detention. China Action also releases practical guides on the Chinese legal system.
China Action is dedicated to promoting human rights within the existing legal framework of the
Peoples Republic of China and has only ever advocated non-violent, informed reliance on
Chinese law. In spite of this, Peter has been arbitrarily detained on spurious accusations.
Despite constant requests by the Swedish Embassy, the Chinese authorities have denied direct
contact with Peter and have not provided any communications from Peter to the embassy. The
authorities have not provided any information regarding the exact nature of the charges. The
denial of consular communication is a direct violation of Chinese law and the Vienna Convention
on Consular Relations. Furthermore, that the authorities have continued to conceal Peters
whereabouts could amount to an enforced disappearance, a violation of international law.
Additionally, Peter suffers from Addisons Disease, a rare defect of the adrenal gland, which is
potentially life threatening unless properly medicated daily. The Chinese authorities have denied
medical care to human rights defenders in detention in the past. That Chinese authorities have
merely issued a verbal assurance that Peter is receiving his medicine while continuing to deny
direct consular communication is appalling.
Peters detention comes amid a six-month long assault on the countrys human rights lawyers.
Since 9 July 2015, over 300 lawyers, human rights defenders, and their family members have
been harassed, detained or subjected to travel bans.
Peters supporters initially sought to pursue this matter through quiet diplomatic pressure.
According to Michael Caster, speaking for the organization, Peters ongoing detention for
supporting legal aid in China makes a mockery of President Xi Jinpings stated commitments to
the rule of law. Peter must be granted direct contact with the Swedish Embassy and his family
without delay. The Chinese authorities must immediately release Peter from detention and drop
all charges against him.


URGENT ACTION: STATEMENT ON THE DETENTION OF PETER DAHLIN

For more information contact: Michael Caster, Michael@china-action.org

Note to editors:
Previous reports erroneously referred to a Peter Beckenridge. For all advocacy and press
references please note the name correction is Peter Dahlin.
While previous reports stated that Peter had been detained at the airport, his exact
location at the time of his disappearance is unknown.
Issue Date: 12 January 2016