Today, our friends at Initiatives for China alerted us to an urgent request on behalf of Liu Xia.

Liu Xia, the widow of human rights activist, Liu Xiaobo, has been under house arrest and intense surveillance in Beijing since her husband was named the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2010.

"Now, I've got nothing to be afraid of. If I can't leave, I'll die in my home. Xiaobo is gone, and there's nothing in the world for me now. It's easier to die than live. Using death to defy could not be any simpler for me."

The Lantos Foundation encourages you to act on the request of PEN International and send appeals expressing concern for the health and well-being of Liu Xi, calling for her immediate release from extra-judicial house arrest, and calling for all restrictions on her freedom of movement and expression to be lifted.

Address appeals to:

His Excellency Xi Jinping
President of the People's Republic of China
State Council
Beijing 100032
P.R. China
Fax: +86 10 6238 1025
Salutation: Your Excellency

PEN asks that you send or, if possible, personally deliver the appeal to the Chinese embassy in your country asking them to forward it to the Chinese authorities.

You can find the contact details of the Chinese embassy in your country here.