This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/02/liu-xiaobo-wife-depression-house-arrest-xia-nobel-peace

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Liu Xiaobo's wife possibly suffering from depression under house arrest Liu Xiaobo's wife possibly suffering from depression under house arrest
(about 1 hour later)
The wife of jailed Nobel peace prize laureate Liu Xiaobo is unwell under house arrest and possibly suffering from severe depression, but refuses to seek medical help as she is afraid of further punishment. The wife of the jailed Nobel peace prize laureate Liu Xiaobo is unwell, under house arrest and possibly suffering from severe depression, but refuses to seek medical help as she is afraid of further punishment.
Accounts given by Liu Xia's friends on Monday shed rarely afforded light on her condition – she has been held at home since Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Prize in 2010. Accounts given by Liu Xia's friends shed a rare light on her condition. She has been held at home since Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel prize in 2010.
The revelations come two days ahead of a visit to China by US vice-president Joe Biden, during which human rights will likely be raised amid a broader crackdown on dissent and freedom of speech and assembly. The revelations come two days before a visit to China by the US vice-president, Joe Biden, during which the issue of human rights will probably be raised in the context of a crackdown on dissent, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
Liu Xia wrote to prominent human rights lawyer Mo Shaoping in August confiding that she was "close to going crazy, close to mental collapse" during the time of the trial of her brother, Liu Hui, on fraud charges, Mo told Reuters. Liu Xia wrote in August to Mo Shaoping, a prominent human rights lawyer, confiding that she was "close to going crazy, close to mental collapse" during the time of the trial of her brother, Liu Hui, on fraud charges, Mo told Reuters.
"Her family is very worried and they've been giving her anti-depressants," Mo said. "It's been long-term and sustained – when you are cut off from the world for so long, what do you think your mental state would be like?" "Her family is very worried and they have been giving her antidepressants," Mo said. "It's been long term and sustained – when you are cut off from the world for so long, what do you think your mental state would be like?"
Mo said Liu Xia fears officials may force her to accept government-appointed doctors, citing how the government has previously used mental institutions to lock up dissidents. Mo said Liu Xia feared officials may force her to accept government-appointed doctors, citing the government's past use of mental institutions to lock up dissidents.
Liu is rarely allowed out of her home, except for occasional visits to her husband and family, and is almost never permitted visitors. She has not been convicted of any crime. Liu is rarely allowed out of her home, except for occasional visits to her husband and family, and is almost never permitted visitors. She has been convicted of no crime.
Hao Jian, who teaches at the Beijing Film Academy and is a friend of Liu, said a friend saw Liu two days ago, wordlessly weeping as she stood at her apartment window. Hao Jian, who teaches at the Beijing Film Academy and is a friend of Liu, said a friend had seen Liu two days ago wordlessly weeping as she stood at a window in her flat.
"Based on our observations, it is getting more and more serious," Hao said. "Before she could speak but now she can't say anything." "Based on our observations, it is getting more and more serious," Hao said. "Before, she could speak, but now she can't say anything."
Xu Youyu, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government think-tank, said he felt Liu Xia's "mental state was on the verge of collapse" the last time he saw her last December. Xu Youyu, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a government thinktank, said he had thought Liu Xia's mental state was "on the verge of collapse" the last time he had seen her, in December.
"She kept on repeating that the stress she was suffering is unthinkable," he said."She kept on repeating that the stress she was suffering is unthinkable," he said.
Liu Xiaobo, a veteran dissident involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests crushed by the Chinese army, was jailed in 2009 for 11 years on subversion charges having organised a petition calling for the overthrow of one-party rule. Liu Xiaobo, a veteran dissident involved in the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, which were crushed by the Chinese army, was jailed in 2009 for 11 years on subversion charges, having organised a petition calling for the overthrow of one-party rule.
Liu Xia last month filed an extraordinary appeal for her husband's retrial, in a move that could renew the focus on China's human rights record.Liu Xia last month filed an extraordinary appeal for her husband's retrial, in a move that could renew the focus on China's human rights record.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.