【新唐人2011年3月29日讯】总部设在英国伦敦，以倡导言论自由的出版组织“查禁目录”（Index on Censorship），24号将今年的“言论自由奖”，颁给了在中国挺身发言的人权律师高智晟。由于高智晟目前行踪不明，他的妻子耿和录了一段视频，代他发表领奖感言。
目前已经失踪一年的高智晟，无法出席“言论自由奖”颁奖典礼，他在美国避难的妻子耿和，感谢“查禁目录”对高智晟坚守人权和自由贡献的认可。
耿和：“我多希望今天站在领奖台的不是我，而是高智晟本人。如果那样，我不仅会为他获奖高兴，更会为他能够重获自由，能够自由的呼吸，自由的思考，自由的讲话而高兴。”
对于高智晟获奖的理由，“查禁目录”解释说，高智晟说出关于人权的问题、并为少数群体辩护而遭到北京政府的迫害。
高智晟过去曾处理多起民众维权案件，多次控告地方政府，还三次上书中共高层，要求改变对法轮功等群体的非法打压。
自学成才的高智晟，从2003年起，就积极参加了陕北石油事件的维权活动。2004年到2005年间，他曾经三次上书中共当局，碰触当前中共最敏感的话题﹣法轮功，他要求政府改变对法轮功等群体的非法打压。
2005年，他被北京勒令停业一年，期间还遭到跟踪、限制人身自由。
2006年，他坚持为弱势群体继续发声，在太石村事件和汕尾事件中，发起了全球维权接力绝食。
苏家屯活摘法轮功学员器官的事件曝光后，高智晟也公开表示，要参与调查活摘器官事件的真相。
2006年8月15号，高智晟在山东姐姐家中被秘密拘捕，同年的9月21号，中共当局以“煽动颠覆国家政权罪”正式将他逮捕。虽然在国际的压力下，最后以缓刑处理，但高智晟一家却受到便衣警察24小时的贴身监控。
2009年2月4号起，高智晟与外界失去了联系，同一时间，他的妻儿在外界的帮助下逃到美国庇难。
2010年4月，高智晟突然回到北京，还接受了《美联社》的专访。随后又再度与外界失去了联系。
耿和：“离上一次的露面， 高智晟又将近一年没有任何消息，我和孩子都在担心和焦虑中度过。每一次的失踪，伴随而来的都是骇人听闻的酷刑。高智晟目前经历的，是中国目前人权真实的状况。”
《美联社》在今年1月公布了高智晟当时接受访问的细节，披露高智晟受到严重的酷刑虐待，《美联社》并解释，之所以会那么晚公布这些细节，是因为高智晟表示，除非他再一次失踪，或是已到了像美国这样的“安全地方”，才能曝光采访内容。
美国民间组织“对华援助协会”，已经征集超过15万人的签名，呼吁中共释放高智晟。
新唐人记者李庭、郭敬综合报导。
Gao Zhisheng Wins Freedom of Expression Award
London-based publishing organization,
Index on Censorship, advocates freedom of
expression. On March 24, it gave Chinese rights
lawyer,Gao Zhisheng, the Freedom of Expression
Award. As Gao is currently missing, his wife,
Geng He, accepted the award on his behalf,
and made an online speech.
Gao has been missing for over a year. His wife
Geng He has been granted asylum in the U.S.
On his behalf, Geng thanked Index on Censorship
for the award that recognizes Gao for his efforts in
safeguarding human rights and freedom of speech
Geng: “I wish Gao Zhisheng could receive this
award in person. If that were the case, I would be
proud of his award. I would cheer for his regaining
of freedom, for being able to breathe freely,
for being able to think and speak freely.“
Regarding the reason to grant the award to Gao,
Index of Censorship said, Gao has been persecuted
by Beijing for speaking out on human right issues
and defending the rights of minority groups.
Gao has worked on many human rights cases.
He accused local authorities several times.
He wrote three open letters to the top officials
of the communist party, calling on them to end
their persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
Since 2003, Gao, a self-taught lawyer, has been
actively participating in the rights activities
concerning an oil-related incident in Shanbei.
From 2004 to 2005, he wrote three open letters to
the Chinese regime about the most sensitive issue –
Falun Gong, calling on the government to end their illegal
persecution of Falun Gong and other groups.
In 2005, his business was suspended for a year
and he was placed under surveillance. His personal
freedom was restricted by the communist regime.
In 2006, he continued to speak out for vulnerable
groups. While advocating for people’s rights,
he launched a global rights advocacy hunger strike.
After the revelations of systematic organ harvesting
of living Falun Gong practitioners, Gao announced
publically that he will join the investigation.
On August 15, 2006, Gao was arrested secretly at
his sister’s home in Shandong. On September 21,
the authorities formally charged him with
“inciting subversion of state power”.
Although he was put on probation due to
international pressure, Gao’s family was placed
under 24-hour surveillance by plainclothed police.
Since February 4, 2009, the outside world has lost
contact with Gao..At the same time, his wife and
children fled to the U.S. for asylum.
On April 2010, Gao suddenly returned to Beijing
and was interviewed by the Associated Press.
Then the outside world lost again contact with him .
Geng: “Since my husband’s last public appearance,
we have endured nearly a year of total silence.
Our children and I live with worry and anxiety.
Gao’s disappearance in the past coincided
with brutality and shocking torture by the regime.
My husband’s case is a true presentation of
China’s ongoing human rights crisis.”
On January 2011, the Associated Press published
details of Gao’s interview, revealing the severity
of the torture he has endured in police’s hands.
Associated Press said that they published these
details so late, because Gao asked not to publish
them unless he disappeared again or
landed in a “safe place” like the U.S.
The U.S. non-government organization,
China Aid Association,
has collected over 150,000 signatures calling on
the Chinese regime to release Gao Zhisheng.
NTD reporters Li Ting and Guo Jing
