We the signatories of this petition call upon Lady Gaga to use her position as an international star to demand that the People's Republic of China immediately and without delay remove the one-year gag order and travel restrictions imposed on artist Ai Weiwei as a condition of his release on June 22.

Ai Weiwei, along with four colleagues, was abducted by Chinese authorities in early April and unlawfully detained for 11 weeks. Despite being accused of tax evasion, Ai has not been charged with any crime. Most observers believe Ai's detention, gag order and travel restrictions are part of a campaign to silence him. Ai was an outspoken critic of corruption in the communist regime.

"If there is one person who is not free, then I am not; if there is one person who still suffers from insult and humiliation, then I do. Do you understand yet?" So said Ai Weiwei. In this spirit, we call on Lady Gaga when in Taiwan to stand in solidarity with her fellow artist unlawfully restricted to Beijing and demand that the Chinese Communist Party immediately grant Ai Weiwei the freedom of expression and freedom of movement that is the right of every person!