UN concerned as China jails prominent human rights lawyers

(Patria) - United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said he was "deeply concerned" after China sentenced two prominent human rights lawyers to more than a decade in prison, AFP reported.

Xu Zhiyong and his colleague Ding Jiaxi were convicted of "subverting state power" after closed-door trials.

Both were leading figures in the "New Citizens" movement, a civil rights group that called for constitutional reform and criticized government corruption.

"I am deeply concerned that two prominent human rights defenders in China, Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong, have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, which are contrary to international human rights law standards," Turk said.

"Human rights law requires that people not be prosecuted, or otherwise punished, for expressing criticism of government policies," he added.

"Respect for the right to a fair trial and due process, as well as proper investigations into any allegations of abuse, are also necessary," Turk said.

Xu, who called for President Xi Jinping to resign over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after a closed-door trial in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong, Human Rights Watch said.

Ding was "jailed for 12 years and deprived of political rights for three years," his wife Luo Shengchun said, referring to a penalty that bars individuals from holding public office in China.

Observers have regularly expressed concern about due process in China, where courts have a conviction rate of around 99 percent.

"I will continue to follow these cases with the authorities," Turk said.