China Imprisons Another Human-Rights Activist

In the wake of China's Tibet crackdown and the ensuing protests, the People's Republic has jailed another vocal dissident: Hu Jia, 34, a prominent human-rights activist who has championed the cause of AIDS victims and other dissidents behind bars, was sentenced to three years and six months behind bars today on the charge of "inciting subversion of state power." His wife, Zeng Jinyan, also an activist, is under house arrest with their 4-month-old daughter. More:

"'He's been under surveillance, been kidnapped. He's been put under house arrest and now they have sentenced him to three and a half years. This is irrational and unfair," Zeng said outside the courthouse, breaking down in tears.

Hu's mother, who did not want to give her name, said her son was innocent of subversion. 'The evidence they had was six articles posted on the internet. I cannot figure out how this is inciting subversion of the government,' she said.

'Hu Jia will never regret what he did. I am very proud of what my son has done. He was found guilty of speaking his mind.'

Li Fangping, the activist's lawyer, said the verdict was unjust and described the sentence as 'unacceptable.'

'The evidence was publishing articles in and outside of China and accepting interviews with the foreign press,' Li said outside the court, adding that he would advise Hu to file an appeal."

Boxun News has pictures from outside court.

The imprisonment of Hu, who suffers from hepatitis, comes a matter of days after Yang Chunlin, leader of the “We want human rights not Olympic Games” campaign, was sentenced to five years in prison. Incidentally, Yang was sentenced the same day that the Olympic torch was lit in Ancient Olympia. Reporters Without Borders writes:

"Guards manhandled Yang, 52, during the trial, which lasted only 20 minutes, and gave him electric shocks with batons when he tried to talk to the 10 relatives and friends who were in the courtroom. His brother spoke out in court, publicly questioning his ability to appeal.

Yang’s wife, Sun Liwei, said he pleaded not guilty and refused to sign the court document recording the sentence, an act of resistance that was supported by his mother and all the other relatives and friends present. 'Yang Chunlin is someone of the people [...] his only crime is to have said the truth,' Sun said. His sister, Meng Lie, openly accused the court of 'circumventing the law to harass the people.'

...A defender of the rights of peasant farmers in the northeast whose land has been taken for development, Yang has been held since 6 July 2007. Li and his other lawyer, Zhang Jianguo, who were unable to see him during the preparation for the trial, said police subjected him to various forms of mistreatment during pretrial detention. This included manacling him by the hands and legs to the four corners of a bench. It is feared he will continue to be mistreated while serving his sentence."

(Getty Images)