Chinese author gets 9 years for ‘subversive’ writing

Chen Wei's sentence is believed to be the harshest of all dissidents involved in the so-called Jasmine Revolution, patterned on the Arab Spring
China
December 23, 2011
Catholic Church News Image of Chinese author gets 9 years for ‘subversive’ writing
Jailed pro-democracy dissident Liu Xiabao, pictured here, has been a close associate of Chen Wei

Chinese writer Chen Wei has been sentenced to nine years in jail for “inciting subversion of state power.”

Chen published several essays online calling for freedom of speech and reform of China’s one-party system.

He was among hundreds of dissidents detained earlier this year after online calls for protests in China inspired by the uprisings in the Middle East.

He told the court he was not guilty and that “democracy will prevail” in China, say reports.

Chen has always insisted he was simply expressing his opinions as allowed under the Chinese constitution.

His wife told the BBC the trial had been “a performance” and that the verdict had been decided before it began.

The indictment against Mr Chen listed several essays he wrote for foreign websites on topics including pieces which criticized the political system in China and praised the growth of civil society.

Full story: Chen Wai jailed in China for ‘subversive’ writing

Source: BBC News China

158 words
 
submit to reddit
  • Print This Post
  • Email This Post
  • share this post
top stories

search

  • between
  • and
ucanews logo
ucanews advertisement policy