Mother of underage rape victim released from labor camp

A woman who had been sent to a labor camp in central China's Hunan province after petitioning for justice for her daughter, who was raped and forced into prostitution at age 11, was released Friday morning, according to local authorities.

Tang Hui was sent to the Reeducation Through Labor Center in the city of Yongzhou on August 2 to serve an 18-month sentence for "seriously disturbing social order and exerting a negative impact on society" after she protested in front of local government buildings, complaining that the municipal police department had falsified evidence to reduce the sentences of those who kidnapped, raped and forced her daughter into prostitution.

Tang filed an appeal on August 7. After considering her appeal, the center decided to allow her to leave, since her daughter, now 17 years old, is still a minor and requires her mother's care, provincial publicity officials said.

Tang's claim that the municipal police falsified evidence is also under investigation, they said.

In October 2006, Tang's then 11-year-old daughter was kidnapped, raped and forced into prostitution. She performed over 100 sexual acts before being rescued on December 30, 2006.

On June 5 this year, the Hunan Provincial Higher People's Court sentenced two of the defendants to death. Four others were given life sentences and another one received a 15-year term.

Before and after the sentences were handed down, Tang had repeatedly petitioned for justice in front of government buildings and sought the death penalty for all seven people who were charged with forcing her daughter into prostitution.

"Tang was dissatisfied with the verdicts and her petitions have seriously disturbed social order and exerted a very negative impact on society," the municipal public security bureau said in a previous statement.