China sentenced a longtime democracy activist to 12 years in prison for allegedly organizing protests that were part of a wave of anti-Japanese demonstrations earlier this year, his wife said yesterday.
Xu Wanping (
Chen said she did not find out about the court's decision until later.
"He's innocent. They should release him immediately," Chen said, who denied Xu had organized or participated in any anti-Japanese demonstrations.
Xu was among about eight political dissidents who were known to have been arrested in May, a month after large anti-Japanese demonstrations occurred in several major Chinese cities.
Few ordinary citizens were known to have been arrested.
The detentions of the dissidents reflect China's unease with anti-Japanese sentiment and fear that dissidents critical of the government could take advantage of the protests to influence ordinary people to protest against other issues, including corruption and lack of freedom.
Xu is believed to be the first of the group of dissidents to be sentenced.
During three weekends in April, tens of thousands of demonstrators across several Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, threw stones, eggs and bottles at the Japanese embassy, shops and restaurants.
Protesters opposed Japan's approval of history textbooks, which China and other Asian countries say gloss over wartime atrocities, as well as Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
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