Xinna, wife of Inner Mongolian dissident Hada, was recently handed a "serious warning" by judicial authorities after visiting family in another city without police permission. Hada, in his mid-50s, is being held under de facto house arrest after 15 years in jail on charges of "separatism" and "espionage." Xinna, who has been charged with no crime, and who recently wrote to Chinese president Xi Jinping calling for her husband's immediate release, spoke to RFA's Mandarin Service about her fears for her husband's health and safety:
The Inner Mongolian authorities still won't let us visit Hada. This is despicable. When he was in prison, we at least were able to visit him a couple of times. Now that he's in the black jail, things are worse than when he was in prison. And there's no good reason for them to do this. When my son Uiles asked them when we could see him, they just hung up on him. They didn't even answer.
We are very worried about Hada right now. When Uiles went there to take a look, he found that Hada wasn't even allowed out for exercise. We are worried about the state Hada is in. We don't even know if he is alive, or if he has been transferred to another place. We are very concerned.
We haven't been allowed to visit him since July. This is very unusual. We are very worried, because Hada's mental health has been very poor ever since he went into the black jail. Now, they suddenly won't let us see him.
Uiles went over there and watched the place for two days straight, and Hada didn't come outside at the allotted time for exercise. We are worried that he may have some illness or disease. There must be a reason why they won't let us see him.
I hope you will able to tell more people about these problems we are having. This is unacceptable, immoral, and inhumane behavior on their part.
The right of family members to visit detainees is the most basic right. Our entire family, not just Hada, has suffered from this unjust treatment all along, which you don't see very often in China.
I have three demands [for President Xi Jinping]. Firstly, allow us to visit him, as is our right. Secondly, release him immediately, and pursue those who have persecuted him according to law. Thirdly, revoke the drug-dealing charges against my son, Uiles.
Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated by Luisetta Mudie.