Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng has reportedly fled to Beijing  after a year and a half under house arrest. Chen is one of China’s best-known human rights activist, famous for his campaign against forced abortions. The blind lawyer spent four years in prison on charges of disturbing public order before being confined to a house in the village of Dongshigu since September 2010. The village was heavily guarded by security officials, those attempting to reach Chen’s house were badly beaten. In a video allegedly filmed after Chen fled, he claims that both he and his family have been tortured by officials.