China's jailed Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo's body cremated
July 15, 2017  09:52

China's Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, who died while in custody following a battle with cancer, was cremated today, officials said.
The 61-year-old human rights activist died due to multiple organ failure following a battle with liver cancer on Thursday.
Family members and friends of Liu bade farewell to him in northeast China's Shenyang city, officials were quoted as saying by the local media.
After the farewell, Liu's body was cremated in accordance with the will of his family members and local customs, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Prior to the cremation, a simple ceremony was held with the attendance of Liu's wife Liu Xia and his friends, the report said.
Liu, China's best-known human rights prisoner, was granted medical parole in June after receiving his diagnosis in prison, but China did not let him seek treatment abroad despite Liu's wishes and international pressure.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who spent his last eight years as a prisoner of conscience died at a hospital in Shenyang, China.
Liu's death led to international criticism of China's handling of the issue. 
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