The Chinese human rights lawyer Li Heping has been detained for the past 15 months for his work as a lawyer and his commitment to human and civil rights.

In view of the rule of law laid down in the Chinese Constitution and the principle that lawyers may defend their clients without impediment, we call on the Chinese Government to release Li Heping without delay.

This is why we are awarding the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law today to Wang Qiaoling, Li Heping’s wife, for her tireless dedication and her role as the voice of the families of imprisoned Chinese lawyers and activists.