China: regarding the Swedish journalist Kurdo Baksi

The Swedish Writers Association, PEN Sweden and the Swedish Union ofJournalists have taken note of what the Chinese Embassy in Sweden has written about the journalist and writer Kurdo Baksi. In Sweden we have freedom of speech and representatives of the Chinese Embassy have the right to freely express their views. We have the right to express ours. Freedom of speech is a prerequisite for democracy.

On the embassy’s website it reads, among other things, about Kurdo Baksi: '(he) is not worthy of discussing democracy or the rule of law at all.' We cannot stand and watch when the Chinese Embassy writes that a recognised Swedish journalist is not worthy of discussing democracy.

The case of the detained Swedish citizen Gui Minhai demonstrates all too clearly that what is needed in China is precisely discussions of democracy and rule of law. To deprive someone of liberty without trial is contrary to human rights. The release of Gui Minhai is a top priority for all our organisations and we will continue to work to bring Gui Minhai home.

Another discussion concerns the Uyghurs. Sweden and other countries have strongly criticised China for how it treats the Uyghurs. Uyghurs who come to Sweden today are granted asylum because of the serious situation for them in China.

The embassy also writes that they hope that ”relevant” Swedish media will not give Kurdo Baksi a platform. In Sweden we have free media. Neither China’s embassy nor we as representatives of press freedom organisations in Sweden shall decide what is to be published or not in our country. That is the definition of free and in our eyes ”relevant” media.

Grethe Rottböll
The Swedish Writers’ Union

Jesper Bengtsson
PEN Sweden

Ulrika Hyllert
Swedish Union of Journalists