Chinese human rights activists have appealed to the international community to press for the release of cyber-dissident Huang Qi, who was arrested in Sichuan province on 10 June on a charge of illegally possessing state secrets.

Deng Taiqing, an activist based in Shanxi province said Huang may have had confidential documents but they were not state secrets.

“In my view, a state secret has to do with the army or national defence,” he said. “Huang Qi tended to print confidential documents but they had nothing to do with state secrets.”

Deng added that he thought the authorities arrested Huang because they feared his activities after the Sichuan earthquake and the growing influence of his website, 64Tianwang.

A Beijing-based activist also criticised the gravity of the charges brought against Huang and insisted they were baseless.

Another Internet user sent an open letter to the Chinese authorities in which he said many Chinese citizens were aware of the case.

He urged the authorities not to mistreat Huang and called for his release.