HRIC has learned that Shanghai rights defender Zheng Enchong has been awarded a “Human Rights Award” from the German Judges Association in a reception attended by the German President Horst Koehler. Because Zheng Enchong is currently imprisoned, and his wife Jiang Meili was restricted from leaving China, Hong Kong petitioner Shen Ting accepted the award on his behalf.

In his address, President Koehler expressed strong concern about China’s human rights situation, especially the persecution of lawyers who seek to defend and protect human rights. The German Judges Association awards ceremony will be held tomorrow (December 9).

Sources told HRIC that on October 28, after months of preparation to attend the ceremony in Germany, Jiang Meili was suddenly told by the Shanghai Zhabei District Court that she could not leave the country due to an “estate management dispute.” She has yet to receive written confirmation.

HRIC continues to advocate for Zheng Enchong and the rights defenders he represented. Zheng has represented the interests of evicted residents in more than 500 cases, most notably in a suit against Shanghai tycoon Zhou Zhengyi. He worked tirelessly to secure justice for these residents and was ultimately sentenced to three years in prison for illegally providing state secrets overseas on October 28, 2003. Zheng has been subjected to mistreatment in prison.