Human rights defender Gao Zhisheng was once a well-known and respected lawyer, a Communist party member, and hero of China. Now he is being held captive by his comrades and reportedly being tortured nearly to death.

What was Gao's crime? He dared to speak out in defense of the persecuted of China.

On September 12, 2007, Gao Zhisheng wrote to the U.S. government and revealed the harsh brutality the Chinese government was inflicting on its people. His account revealed incidents of unspeakable torture and coercion. The Chinese government was furious and captured him, physically and mentally torturing him for more than 50 days, before releasing him on the condition that he would tell no one of his abuse.

But Gao refused to remain silent. In spite of death threats, and constant surveillance and abuse of his family, Gao resolved to share the details of his torture with the world.

On February 4, 2009, police officers seized Gao Zhisheng in his Beijing apartment. No one has seen him in public since. Five days after his arrest, Gao's personal biographical account of his torture was released publicly, striking an ominous chord in his absence.

Now, more than one year later, Gao Zhisheng remains hidden. His captors pray the world will forget this iconic man, and allow his name and cause to be erased from our consciousness.

Gao Zhisheng dared to speak out for human rights. Now he is being tortured. As citizens who believe in justice and equality, we cannot keep our silence. We must speak out and protest this brutality. Please help us now.

Visit the website FreeGao.com and sign the petition. Contact your State Representative or UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Gao's behalf, and consider making a financial contribution to help keep this story alive until the Chinese Communist government reveals Gao's whereabouts and current condition.

Gao Zhisheng is an international servant who risked his life to promote basic human and religious rights. He was nominated for a Nobel Peace prize in 2008. His family, now living in the United States, remain extremely concerned about his whereabouts.

Please join now to Free Gao Zhisheng. To remain silent would be a crime.