Ai Weiwei, the Chinese artist and dissident at the heart of Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (coming to Independent Lens next season), reports that his bail was lifted after a hearing today, and he has left his compound for the first time in a year without having to alert the police of his plans. However, his passport has been confiscated and he is not permitted to leave the country. Weiwei is being prosecuted for alleged tax evasion in China, but he claims the charges were fabricated to intimidate and silence him. Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of his release from detention after 81 days without being charged.
Weiwei writes that the Chinese government has informed him that he may be charged with pornography for an image he posted online in which he posed nude with several women, and possibly also with bigamy, because he has a child with a woman who is not his wife.
Will it stop him? He says no. “I often ask myself if I am afraid of being detained again. My inner voice says I am not. I love freedom, like anybody; maybe more than most people. But it is such a tragedy if you live your life in fear. That’s worse than actually losing your freedom.” Read his whole article on The Guardian (UK).
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry OFFICIAL TRAILER from Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry on Vimeo.
