Zhou Yuanwu was a workers' representative at the Jingchu Brewery in Jingzhou, Hubei, who'd led several protests in defense of the factory workers' rights. In April 2007, he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by the Jingzhou District Court for "obstructing public officers in the execution of their duties."

The Boxun News Network reported that on 18 August 2006, the Jingzhou District police attempted to forcibly bring Zhou to court without first issuing a subpoena. When he refused, Zhou was beaten up and arrested on the grounds of assaulting a police officer. His case was heard by the Jingzhou District court on 6 April 2007, but Zhou was deprived of his advocate, Chen Xiongyan, after Chen was detained for violating court discipline.

On 25 April, workers at the Jingchu Brewery organized a petition in support of Zhou Yuanwu, claiming his face was covered in blood after being beaten by the police and refuting his alleged attack on the police. The workers announced their intention to file a petition in Beijing, demanding "an end to corruption and the embezzlement of money earned by the blood and sweat of laid-off workers."

Zhou is due for release in January,2009.

Click here to view CLB's complete list of Labour Rights Activists Imprisoned in China.