The photograph appears to show Liu Xia, who has been under house arrest since the announcement of her late husband’s Nobel prize in October 2010, poring over titles in a bookshop, with her characteristic shaved head, and wearing dark clothing. It has once more prompted speculation that the authorities may have relaxed their grip on Liu, whose continued house arrest in spite of having committed no crime, has caused an international public outcry. But Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia, a close friend of Liu Xia, said she could have insisted on making a quick visit to the store on one of her frequent trips to the hospital for medical treatment.
