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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Prominent Chinese dissident Hu Jia freed - wife | Prominent Chinese dissident Hu Jia freed - wife |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Hu Jia - one of China's most prominent dissidents - has been released from prison, his wife says. | Hu Jia - one of China's most prominent dissidents - has been released from prison, his wife says. |
| Zeng Jingyan said he had now reunited with his family in Beijing. | Zeng Jingyan said he had now reunited with his family in Beijing. |
| Hu Jia, 37, served three-and-a-half years in prison for "inciting subversion". His term had been set to end on Sunday. | Hu Jia, 37, served three-and-a-half years in prison for "inciting subversion". His term had been set to end on Sunday. |
| The move follows the release of prominent artist Ai Weiwei on Wednesday. Mr Ai's four associates were also reportedly freed. | The move follows the release of prominent artist Ai Weiwei on Wednesday. Mr Ai's four associates were also reportedly freed. |
| The releases come as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is visiting Europe. | The releases come as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is visiting Europe. |
| 'Malicious rumours' | |
| Zeng Jingyan told Reuters news agency that her husband was now "back home with his parents and me". | Zeng Jingyan told Reuters news agency that her husband was now "back home with his parents and me". |
| She added that they did not want to give interviews at this stage, as it "might cause problems". | |
| Rights activists have repeatedly expressed concern that Beijing may impose tough restrictions on Mr Hu after his release. The Chinese government has so far not commented on the move. | |
| Mr Hu was convicted and imprisoned in 2008. | |
| The charges related to five articles Mr Hu had written as well as interviews he had given to journalists in which he was critical of the Chinese authorities. | |
| China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported at the time that he had "spread malicious rumours, libel and instigation". | |
| He was active in a broad range of civil liberty issues, and also campaigned for the environment and support to patients with Aids. | He was active in a broad range of civil liberty issues, and also campaigned for the environment and support to patients with Aids. |
| Mr Hu became particularly outspoken in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, publishing an open letter to the Chinese government titled The Real China and the Olympics, which called for an end to human rights abuses in the country. | |
| In 2007, he was placed under house arrest after he and his wife made a documentary about their experiences of living under constant police surveillance. | |
| Mr Hu has won the European Union's top human rights award, the Sakharov prize, and is considered by Amnesty International as a former prisoner of conscience. |