A relative and rights groups told Reuters that a Chinese court sentenced two famous human rights attorneys to over a decade in prison on Monday, continuing President Xi Jinping’s years-long assault on civil society.
In June 2018, the family informed Reuters that, behind closed doors, Xu Zhiyong, 50, and Ding Jiaxi, 55, were tried for state subversion in Linshu County, Shandong.
The New Citizens Movement, led by Xu and Ding, wanted more transparency into officials’ wealth and constitutional civil rights for Chinese individuals.
Ding’s wife, Luo Shengchun, who lives in the US and has pursued his case with State Department officials, informed Reuters of the punishment but had no other details.
“Their attorneys are barred from publicizing court judgement records and they do not dare say where they were punished and under what accusations,” she added by phone.
She said she’d keep asking.
“I will not allow them imprison Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong that easy.” She said Xu was sentenced to 14 years and Ding to 12.
China’s foreign ministry denied knowledge of the cases.
“China is a country controlled by law, everyone are treated equally under the law and matters are handled in line with the law,” spokeswoman Wang Wenbin said at a regular briefing.
Reuters requested comment from the court and justice ministry, but neither responded.
Ding was arrested in December 2019 after attending a Southern China rally with 20 attorneys and activists.
His lawyer Peng Jian told the court that he was detained incommunicado for approximately six months and tortured to confess.
After hiding, Ding’s close buddy Xu was arrested in February 2020.
Luo noted that authorities had prevented their attorneys from contacting international media, a common tactic in recent years to limit rights-related publicity.
Both activists had been imprisoned.
“The painfully absurd judgments and penalties meted out to Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi illustrate President Xi’s unstinting animosity towards peaceful movement,” said New York-based Human Rights Watch senior China researcher Yaqiu Wang.
The rights organization said their private sessions were “riddled with procedural issues and claims of maltreatment.”
Since 2012, Xi has severely repressed dissent. In the “709” cases, hundreds of rights attorneys were arrested and scores imprisoned on July 9, 2015.
China claims it has the rule of law and that incarcerated rights attorneys and activists are criminals.
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