(PresidentialWire.com)- China is leading the way in silencing political opponents of the government and perhaps giving ideas to authoritarian Democrats in America along the way.
According to reports this week, Credit Suisse has shut down a bank account used by artist and human rights activist Ai Weiwei, citing his alleged “criminal record.”
It makes little sense as Ai told Reuters this week that he has never been convicted of any crime and therefore does not have a criminal record.
Speaking to the outlet, Ai revealed how he was initially informed by the bank that all of his accounts would be terminated, and that any account connected to anybody else with a criminal record will also be terminated. It appeared to be an effort to make it appear as though it was not politically motivated.
He said that he was first contacted by Credit Suisse in March regarding the termination of the account.
Currently, Ai lives in Portugal where is significantly safer and somewhat protected from retribution for his activism from the Chinese government. He claimed that the Swiss bank asked him to move his funds by September.
When asked by reporters about the closure, Credit Suisse said that they would not discuss any “potential or existing client relationships.”
Ai Weiwei is known for creating the “Bird’s Nest’ stadium that was used in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and over the years he has also become recognized for his criticism of the Chines government for its persistent human rights abuses. He was arrested in 2011 for allegedly committing “economic crimes: and was held for 81 days, but was never formally convicted of a crime.
In other words, China punished him for speaking out against the government…and it looks like they might have gotten to Credit Suisse, too.
