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Ai Weiwei Reflects on His 2009 Ordeal

On Sunday, China arrested its most famous artist/activist as he attempted to board a plane to Hong Kong—and he hasn’t been heard from since. But this isn’t the first time Ai has been taken prisoner by his government. Months after being beaten and detained in the summer of 2009, he reflected on his experience in Newsweek—and implored President Obama to discuss human rights during his first visit to the communist nation.

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Peter Parks / Getty Images,PETER PARKS