China Jails Rights Activist for 4 Years
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Jumat, 19 Oktober 2018 21:12 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Beijing - A court in China has sentenced a prominent anti-corruption activist to four years in prison for allegedly "gathering a crowd to disrupt public order."
The activist, Xu Zhiyong is the founder of the New Citizens' Movement. The group advocates for rule of law and other issues, including the rights of the children of migrant workers and for the public disclosure of the assets of high-ranking officials.
Xu's lawyer, Zhang Qingfang, said he will meet Xu within the next two days to get his opinion on whether to lodge an appeal.
"He said (in court) that the last remaining dignity of the Chinese legal system has been destroyed," Zhang told reporters.
"It's not that we can't bear this result but that, fundamentally, the guilty conviction is illegal, is unreasonable and unfair," he said.
On Wednesday, There were chaotic scenes outside the court as police shoved and harassed foreign reporters. Zhang was briefly taken away in a van by police after the hearing. He said police were still tailing him after he was released.
REUTERS | VOA | NATALIA SANTI
