U.S. urges China to free family members of U.S.-based journalist

The State Department is urging Chinese authorities to release family members of a Washington-based Radio Free Asia journalist who have faced harassment in apparent retribution for his reporting.

Shohret Hoshur, a U.S. citizen, works for the U.S. government-funded radio’s service for minority ethnic Uighurs in China’s far west.

Hoshur says his family has learned that two of his brothers, detained since August, will go on trial next week on anti-state charges. A third brother was sentenced last June to five years, accused of endangering state security.

Michael Quinlan, a spokesman for the department’s East Asia bureau, urged China on Friday to release the family members who have been detained and treat them fairly and with dignity.

He said the department continues to closely monitor the case.