Funeral in Shenyang for imprisoned Chinese essayist Liu Xiaobo

World Today

China Liu XiaoboIn this photo provided by the Shenyang Municipal Information Office, relatives stand next to the casket of jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner and Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo during his funeral at a funeral parlor in Shenyang in northeastern China’s Liaoning Province, Saturday, July 15, 2017. (Shenyang Municipal Information Office via AP)

A funeral has been held for imprisoned Chinese political essayist Liu Xiaobo, who died on Thursday. Zhang Qingyang, a spokesman for the Shenyang municipal government, said the body was cremated.

“The wife of Liu Xiaobo – Liu Xia – and the elder brother of Liu Xiaobo, and other friends and relatives took part in the funeral service,” Zhang told a news conference.
Liu died of complications from liver cancer.

He spent eight years in prison after being convicted of “inciting subversion of state power.” He was transferred from prison to the hospital last month after he was diagnosed with cancer.

The municipal spokesman said Liu’s wife will likely remain in China. Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010. China says the award reflected poorly on the Nobel Committee.