Amnesty International
Amnesty.nl Jailing of Chinese activist Wang Lihong is 'inhumane'
Jailing of Chinese activist Wang Lihong is 'inhumane'
09
sep
2011
A Chinese activist jailed in connection with her support for bloggers
must be released, Amnesty International said today after she was
sentenced to nine months in prison.
Wang Lihong, 56, was detained in March and later charged with
"creating a disturbance" amid a government crackdown on online calls
for a "Jasmine Revolution" inspired by protests in the Middle East
and North Africa.
She had pleaded not guilty in court in Beijing and has told her lawyer
that she plans to appeal.
"This unjust verdict is the latest example of China's zeal for
persecuting anyone who dares to defy the tight controls in China and to
publicly support human rights activists," said Sam Zarifi, Asia-Pacific
Director at Amnesty International.
"Wang Lihong's arrest, trial and sentencing were a farce. She has
worked peacefully for a more fair and just China and has consistently
spoken out against human rights abuses in her country. For this, she
should be commended, not jailed."
Wang Lihong was taken from her home by nine police officers on 21 March
2011.
The charges relate to her participation in a peaceful protest in April
2010 in support of three internet activists from Fujian province who
were charged with defamation for posting questions online about an
alleged police cover-up in the death of a young woman.
Wang Lihong's lawyers say they had limited access to her case
documents, in violation of legal provisions on lawyers' rights, and
that during the trial - which only lasted a few hours - they were not
given enough time to present a proper defence.
Wang Lihong suffers from chronic back pain and her health has
deteriorated after nearly five months in detention.
"Wang Lihong supports other peaceful activists by doing more than just
speaking out. She often spent time with the family members of activists
who had been arrested to help them out with cooking or other chores.
She is tireless and selfless and because of this, people across the
country have voiced their support for her," said Sam Zarifi.
"The Chinese authorities' persecution of Wang Lihong is not only
inhumane but foolish. By silencing Wang Lihong, the Chinese authorities
have silenced a force for good."
Several other activists targeted in a crackdown on freedom of
expression earlier this year remain in detention. Writer and blogger
Ran Yunfei was put under "residential surveillance" on 9 August, having
been detained since March on charges of "inciting subversion of state
power".
Activist Hua Chunhui, who was arrested in February during the
crackdown, is serving the remainder of his 18-month Re-education
through Labour term at home on medical grounds.
Prominent dissident Ding Mao remains in detention on suspicion of
"inciting subversion of state power", while activists Chen Wei and
Liang Haiyi have been in incommunicado detention since February.
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Zie het origineel