Who is Lui Xiaobo? Founding President of the Chinese PEN centre, Xiaobo was arrested in 2008 for the “Charter 08” manifesto, calling for democratic reform. Held incommunicado under pretrial detention, he was formally charged with subverting state power and sentenced to 11 years in prison. After a life time of writing and organising, he received the Nobel Peace Prize while incarcerated, before his passing in police custody in 2017. He was often described as the Nelson Mandela or Vaclav Havel of China.
With a fearless commitment to peaceful free expression and democratic progress, Xiaobo is one of many giants across history whose shoulders we stand on today.
In our series, we will continue to remember others like him, from the past, into the future, pushing for the freedoms and progress we often take for granted.
Watch: Joanne Leedom-Ackerman Speaks About Liu Xiaobo
PEN International Vice-President Joanne Leedom-Ackerman speaks about Xiaobo’s life, followed by a moving reading of his poetry by his wife, Liu Xia, from exile in Berlin.
*See PEN International's Liu Xiaobo Anniversary Campaign from 2020 raising awareness on four Chinese writers imprisoned at the time.
Read Xiaobo's Book
📚 We join PEN International in recommending his book, No Enemies, No Hatred, a collection of essays from a life time of forward thinking and writing. In August, the theme is Truth in Non-Fiction, works that speaks truth to power and challenges silence.
