US condemns jail terms for Chinese human rights lawyers
by AFP Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) April 11, 2023

The United States condemned on Tuesday lengthy prison sentences handed down to two prominent Chinese human rights lawyers, calling for their immediate release.

"The United States condemns the People's Republic of China's (PRC) unjust detention and sentencing of human rights defenders Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi," the State Department said.

Xu and Ding were sentenced to 14 and 12 years, respectively, on Monday. The sentences came after they were found guilty of subversion charges in a closed-door trial last year.

The two lawyers were members of the New Citizens Movement, a civil rights organization which has called for constitutional reform and has accused the government of corruption.

Luo Shengchun, Ding's wife, told AFP that in addition to his prison sentence, he was barred from holding a public position for three years.

"These sentences demonstrate the PRC's expansive effort to intimidate and silence all aspects of civil society," the State Department said, adding that the lawyers were exercising "internationally recognized fundamental freedoms, such as the freedoms of assembly and expression."

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