An international human rights group says a leading Chinese activist has been severely beaten in prison.
Amnesty International says Chen Guangchen was beaten by several prisoners on the orders of his guards as a punishment for trying to file an appeal.
His wife says the guards were also upset that he refused to allow his head to be shaved.
Amnesty says Chen has gone on a hunger strike to protest the beatings. The group says it believes Chen's life is in danger.
Chen, who is blind, has been imprisoned since 2006 for damaging property and disrupting traffic. Rights activists say he was actually imprisoned in retaliation for his work campaigning against forced abortions and sterilizations in China.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.