A journalist covering the house arrest of a blind Chinese Chen Guangcheng  activist had her passport stolen and was forcibly removed from the activist’s villiage earlier today.  Rachel Beitarie from Calcalist and Israel radio reported via Twitter that she had her passport stolen, and was taken to the suburbs of Linyi, Shandong province and abandoned whilst covering the story.

Chen Guangcheng served a 51 month prison sentence for disturbing public order following accusations that officials were forcing women to have abortions. He was released in September 2010, but has been under house arrest in Linyi since then.