DISSIDENT

Ai Wei Wei Threatened With Charges

Chinese police bar artist from travel.

They won’t take off the muzzle. Chinese officials told artist and dissident Ai Wei Wei Thursday that he could face pornography and bigamy charges if he doesn’t respect a travel ban against him. The 55-year-old artist was allowed to leave his home in China without reporting to the police Thursday, something he’s not been allowed to do in a year. “If getting back half of my freedom means I’m free, then I’m a free person,” Chinese artist Ai Thursday. “But they’re restricting my ability to travel and still trying to fabricate crimes.” Ai was held without charge for 81 days in 2011. “I feel this shows that they are trying to intimidate, trying to put pressure on a citizen to tell you who’s the authority,” Ai said Thursday.