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Details Emerge Of Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei's Detention
By Damian Grammaticas
BBC News, Beijing BBC NEWS, ASIA-PACIFIC
August 2011 11: Chinese artist Ai Weiwei believed he was "close to death" during the more than 80 days he was held in a secret police detention centre, a source close to the artist told the BBC. Beijing has banned him from speaking to the press since his release.
However, the source said Mr Ai was hooded, kept under constant watch with guards inside his cell and subjected to treatment designed to break him. Mr Ai was detained on charges of tax fraud by the Chinese authorities. For 81 days Ai Weiwei was held in a windowless cell of 4m by 4m (170 sq ft) and never allowed out.
The source trusted by the artist, has told the BBC that Mr Ai described his secret detention as "the toughest situation a human being can be in", every minute he felt "close to death".
China's most famous artist and one of the most vocal critics of its ruling Communist Party was picked up by police in April as the authorities rounded-up activists, following online calls for a Middle Eastern-style Jasmine revolution in China. He was hooded, interrogated repeatedly and watched over at all times by two soldiers who stood to attention inside his cell. He had to ask their permission to use his toilet, even to drink a glass of water.
Amid an international outcry China's government said he was being investigated for tax evasion. But the source has told the BBC the interrogations hardly mentioned the tax issue. They focused instead on the calls for a Jasmine revolution and claims Mr Ai was trying to "subvert the state", even though the artist had no involvement in it and they had no proof. The police apparently told Mr Ai "this is what happens when you criticize the government. You made China look bad, now we want to make you look bad".
