The Swiss representation in China had asked for the immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of the human rights lawyer who has been missing for two months. Tang Jitian had wanted to attend a ceremony in Beijing to mark Human Rights Day.
The post on Weibo was censored about 24 hours after it was published on February 10, the embassy wrote on its Twitter account on Thursday. The Swiss embassy requested that Tang’s family and legal representation be allowed to meet him.
The Swiss foreign ministry told the Swiss News Agency Keystone-SDA that Switzerland is committed to human rights everywhere, including in China. Respect for basic individual rights is a fundamental element of bilateral relations, including in the area of public communication, it added.
Tang Jitian has been arrested several times in China and claims to have been tortured. According to Amnesty International, he and other lawyers are investigating alleged confessions obtained under torture. He is not the only human rights activist to have disappeared or been arrested in China before the Beijing Winter Olympics.
The Swiss government decided not to attend the Olympics or Paralympics. However, unlike some other countries, it said it was not a diplomatic boycott of the Games as a protest over human rights issues but a decision made for pandemic reasons.
Popular Stories
More
Demographics
Flat-hunting in Switzerland’s cheapest and most expensive municipalities
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Five Swiss diplomats leave Tehran as Israel-Iran war enters sixth day
This content was published on
Five Swiss diplomats left the Iranian capital with their families by land by their own means on Tuesday, a Swiss foreign ministry spokesperson has confirmed.
Ex-employee of Bank Pictet convicted of money laundering
This content was published on
The Geneva-based bank Pictet has been fined CHF2 million for shortcomings in its organisation which enabled a former asset manager to commit serious money laundering.
20 Minuten: last Swiss free daily to stop being printed
This content was published on
From the end of the year, there will no longer be a daily free newspaper in Switzerland: the TX Group is discontinuing the print version of "20 Minuten". Up to 80 full-time positions are to be cut in the editorial and publishing departments.
This content was published on
The Swiss population is in favour of compulsory military service and closer ties with NATO. These are the findings of the "Security 2025" study.
Irregular migration to Switzerland halves year-on-year
This content was published on
Irregular migration to Switzerland has decreased significantly. The figures from January to May show that only half as many illegal stays were recorded compared to the same period last year.
This content was published on
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is to cut around 3,500 jobs as a result of financial cuts linked in particular to US decisions. Hundreds of temporary contracts will also be cut, the UN agency said in Geneva on Monday.
Swiss government to help cantons expel rejected asylum-seekers
This content was published on
The federal government is to provide greater relief and support to the cantons when it comes to deporting people who are not entitled to asylum in Switzerland.
This content was published on
One in four people in Switzerland feels stressed often or almost always. Among the under-30s, the figure is as high as 40%.
This content was published on
The Swiss government says its first ever China strategy is intended to create “greater coherence" in its relations with Beijing.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.