On 22 December 2008 , an organization of scholars , writers , lawyers , and human rights workers wrote an open letter to ask the government to let Liu out of prison . On 21 January 2009 , 300 international writers , including Salman Rushdie , Margaret Atwood , Ha Jin and Jung Chang , called for Liu 's release in a statement put out through PEN . On 11 December 2008 , the U.S. Department of State called for Liu 's release ; on 22 December 2008 , a consortium of scholars , writers , lawyers and human rights advocates called for Liu 's release in an open letter ; and on 21 January 2009 , 300 international writers , including Salman Rushdie , Margaret Atwood , Ha Jin and Jung Chang , called for Liu 's release in a statement put out through PEN .