Beijing [China], July 12 (ANI): Xu Zhangrun, a vocal critic of ruling Chinese Communist Party leadership who was detained by Chinese authorities last week, has returned to his Beijing home on Sunday morning, South China Morning Post reported citing sources.
“As I learned, Xu returned home about 7.30 am and was taking a shower and resting,” Wang Bin, a writer and close friend was quoted as saying.
According to the South China Morning Post report, Zhang Ming, a political-science professor at Renmin University and friend, said he was always confident that Xu would be freed.
“I predicted Xu would be released within a week because the community of intellectuals no longer poses a threat [to Beijing],” he said. “The ones who can do the most harm are the princelings, like Ren Zhiqiang.”
A police officer had informed Xu’s wife that he was accused of soliciting prostitutes while visiting the southwest city of Chengdu.
“But because the authorities lacked credibility, the public didn’t believe Xu would do that, so it was difficult for them to continue with the case,” Zhang was quoted as saying.
His detaining has come under fierce criticism with US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, calling for his release.
“As with all unelected, communist regimes, Beijing fears its own people’s free-thinking more than any foreign foe. We were deeply troubled to learn this week that the CCP detained Xu Zhangrun for criticizing General Secretary Xi Jinping‘s repressive regime and the CCP’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Pompeo.
“He should be released. He was simply telling the truth. He should be released as soon as possible,” the US Secretary of State said.
According to media reports, Xu had published an essay in February criticising Xi’s policy of deception and censorship over the coronavirus situation in China.
Xu worked as a law professor at Tsinghua University. He had earlier spoken against the 2018 abolition of presidential term limits. (ANI)
