Jailed rights activist Hu Jia had his hands and feet shackled and was held in solitary confinement, after he talked to fellow inmates about human rights, says his wife.

Zeng Jinyan was reportedly allowed to visit her husband on 25 September. China Digital Times has a link Zeng Jinyan's blog post, written in Chinese, about the visit, and to another blog which translates it.

From the translation:

" …After this he was subjected to special isolation for nine days … From the time he was first jailed until now, four other prisoners have had the responsibility of being with Hu Jia at all times and reporting on his actions to the authorities …

" …The prison officials said that they read my blog, and that if anyone tried to influence their prison management, Hu Jia would suffer the most severe consequences … "

Harassed and beaten

In April this year, the Hu Jia was jailed for three-and-a-half years jail after being convicted of 'inciting subversion of state power'. The conviction was connected with interviews he gave to overseas media and articles he wrote for the Internet.

The 35-year-old activist and human rights defender has been repeatedly harassed and beaten by police because of his activities and outspokenness.

Meanwhile, the Wall St Journal has more news on the prediction by Stein Tonnesson, the director of the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo, that Hu Jia may win this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

Nobel predictions

It has asked Stein Tonnesson why he selected Hu Jia, and whether the prize committee will be willing to anger China – as it most certainly will do if it picks Hu Jia.

From the article:

" …In the past few years, I have not predicted a Chinese dissident would win because the Nobel Committee would probably be reticent about disturbing China before the Olympics. If a Chinese was given the prize just at a time when the nation's sentiments were geared towards this big national moment, it would probably be badly perceived.

" But now China has had the Olympics and it was a great success. Now China would be able to afford and meet such criticism …"