U.S. calls on Beijing to grant freedom of movement to Chinese rights lawyer

The United States on Monday called on China to allow freedom of movement to prominent rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, whom it said has been released after five years of unjust detention, the U.S. State Department said in a statement.

"We remain very concerned about reports of his declining physical and mental health, and of his mistreatment in prison," the State Department said, adding that it continued to call on Beijing for the release of 'all those unjustly detained', saying Washington remained concerned by China's 'weak rule of law, arbitrary detentions and torture in custody.'