In the Press | Chinese Human Rights Defenders

Chinesischer Aktivist zu siebeneinhalb Jahren Haft verurteilt

August 6, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by APA on August 3, 2016 Hartes Urteil am zweiten Verhandlungstag in Tianjin Tianjin – Ein chinesisches Gericht hat im Zuge der Verfolgung von Bürgerrechtsanwälten und Menschenrechtlern ein hartes Urteil gefällt. Das Zweite Mittlere Volksgericht der nordchinesischen Stadt Tianjin in der Nähe von Peking verurteilte den Aktivisten Hu Shigen (read more…)

China Frees Wang Yu, Human Rights Lawyer, After Videotaped Confession

August 6, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by The New York Times on August 1, 2016 BEIJING — A prominent lawyer jailed as part of a crackdown on human rights lawyers in China has been released from detention, according to news reports on Monday, even as her colleagues suggested that a videotaped confession she had offered (read more…)

China Releases Top Rights Lawyer on Bail Following TV ‘Confession’

August 6, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asia on August 1, 2016 Authorities in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin have reportedly released on bail a prominent human rights lawyer, while rights groups say the subversion trials of several others could begin soon. Wang Yu, whose July 9, 2015 detention marked the start (read more…)

China Finds Activist Guilty of ‘Subversion,’ More Lawyer Trials to Follow

August 5, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by Radio Free Asia on August 2, 2016 A court in the northern city of Tianjin on Tuesday found a rights activist linked to prominent human rights lawyers guilty of subversion, as state media said he had “confessed” to being part of a foreign-inspired plot to overthrow the ruling Chinese (read more…)

China puts activists, lawyer on trial for subversion

August 5, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by Los Angeles Times on August 2, 2016 China is putting three human rights activists and one lawyer on trial this week in the eastern city of Tianjin, and on Tuesday the court handed down the first verdict, finding one defendant guilty of subversion and imposing a three-year suspended prison sentence. (read more…)

Beijing Gains ‘Confession’, Guilty Plea from Human Rights Lawyers

August 5, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by The News Lens on August 2, 2016 Beijing-based human rights activist Zhai Yanmin (翟岩民) was sentenced today after reportedly pleading guilty to subverting state power. Zhai, 55, was sentenced to three years in prison with a four-year reprieve at a court in Tianjin, northern China. State-owned Xinhua says the court (read more…)

Rights Groups Denounce Court Ruling Against Chinese Activist

August 5, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by Voice of America on August 2, 2016 A court in Tianjin Tuesday handed down a guilty verdict for Chinese rights defender Zhai Yanmin, who was given a three-year jail term with a four-year probation period after being found guilty of “state subversion.” Activist arrested, detained Zhai’s verdict came (read more…)

Christian church leader jailed in Chinese human rights crackdown

August 5, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by The Guardian on August 3, 2016 A prominent Christian church leader has become the latest to be jailed by Chinese courts during a week of activist trials and public confessions that have shocked international observers. Hu Shigen, a leader of an underground church movement, was found guilty of (read more…)

Forcibly hospitalised petitioner deemed ‘mentally ill’ finally declared well enough for jail

August 5, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by South China Morning Post on July 23, 2016 A petitioner who had been forcibly hospitalised in psychiatric hospitals was declared mentally fit before being sentenced and jailed for blackmailing government officials, according to mainland media. Petitioner Xu Xueling, 53, was sentenced to four years in jail for “picking (read more…)

Shandong petitioner sentenced to 4 years in prison for taking money from government staff

August 5, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by Hong Kong Free Press on July 23, 2016 A petitioner who was sent to psychiatric hospitals has been sentenced to four years in prison for taking money from stability maintenance personnel, The Paper reported. Xu Xueling, a 53 year old petitioner, demanded RMB 37,700 (HK$43,818) from government staff responsible for “stability (read more…)

Strange interview raises fears about Beijing’s influence over Hong Kong’s paper of record

August 5, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by Shanghaiist on July 28, 2016 The South China Morning Post is stuck between a rock and a hard place as critics have begun to question the (once) venerable newspaper’s peculiar interview with a young activist who had been detained by Chinese authorities for over a year. The activist (read more…)

Chinese authorities issue arrest notice for founder of protest-tracking blog

July 22, 2016 Comments Off

Originally published by Hong Kong Free Press on July 22, 2016 Chinese authorities have issued a formal arrest notice for citizen journalist Lu Yuyu after detaining him for five weeks, Chinese news outlet Weiquanwang reported on Thursday. Lu is founder of the blog “Not News”, which keeps track of and reports on mass demonstrations in China (read more…)