Leading Chinese #MeToo activist Huang Xueqin (黃雪琴) yesterday was sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of subverting state power at a court in southern China, according to a group campaigning for her release and a copy of the verdict.
Huang, a 35-year-old independent journalist, plans to appeal, supporters said.
Labor activist Wang Jianbing (王建兵), 40, who stood trial with Huang, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison. It was not immediately clear if he would appeal.
Photo: Reuters
A spokesperson for the group Free Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing, said the group believed Chinese authorities were using national security as a pretext to suppress social welfare advocates.
“This is a denial and obliteration of the value of social justice, as well as a denial of moderate voices in civil society. This is a very bad sign,” the person said, asking to remain anonymous due to safety concerns.
The pair have been detained by Chinese authorities since September 2021 and today marks 1,000 days since they were arrested. They denied any wrongdoing during the closed-door trial last year, supporters have said.
The charges of sedition against Huang and Wang were based on the gatherings they often held for young Chinese during which they discussed social issues.
Consular representatives from the US, Denmark, France, Germany, New Zealand and the UK attempted to attend the court proceedings, but were refused entry, two diplomats said, declining to be identified as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
There was a heavy security presence around Guangzhou People’s Intermediate Court yesterday morning, with police questioning bystanders.
“These convictions will prolong their deeply unjust detention and have a further chilling effect on human rights and social advocacy in a country where activists face increasing state crackdowns,” Amnesty International China director Sarah Brooks said in a statement
The charge of “inciting subversion of state power” is frequently used by the Chinese government against dissidents and carries a maximum prison term of five years, but can be longer if the suspect is considered a ringleader or to have committed serious crimes. Sentences take into account time served.
A copy of the verdict shared with Reuters said the nature of Huang’s and Wang’s actions, as well as the “degree of harm done to society,” had determined their sentences.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian (林劍) said that China was a nation based on the rule of law and anyone who broke the law would be punished.
“China firmly opposes any country or organization challenging China’s judicial sovereignty,” he said.
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