Chinese Rights Advocate Is Detained

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/world/asia/chinese-rights-advocate-is-detained.html

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BEIJING — A well-known human rights advocate who lives in Beijing, Hu Jia, was detained for several hours on Thursday evening by the police in the southern city of Shenzhen, along with his five-year-old daughter, Qianci, according to Mr. Hu’s wife, Zeng Jinyan.

Also detained was Teng Biao, a lawyer from Beijing.

The three were at a restaurant in Shenzhen, which is across the border from Hong Kong. It was Mr. Hu’s 40th birthday.

A photograph of the three standing in front of a birthday cake with a pair of lit candles circulated on Twitter late Thursday.

Mr. Hu served three years in prison after being found guilty of “inciting subversion of the state.” That is a common charge used to silence critics of the Communist Party and its policies.

Mr. Teng is often put under temporary house arrest, especially during delicate public anniversaries.