China: Human rights lawyer jailed following ‘sham trial’

The conviction and sentencing of prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong to two years in jail is utterly unjust and he should be immediately and unconditionally released, Amnesty International has said.

Earlier today, Changsha Intermediate People’s Court in central China found Jiang Tianyong guilty of “inciting subversion of state power”.

Earlier, at a sham trial in August Mr Jiang “confessed” and apologised for fabricating rumours of torture by Chinese police, and for attending an overseas workshop to discuss changing China’s political system.

William Nee, China researcher at Amnesty International, said: “Jiang Tianyong has committed no crime. His unjust conviction is a textbook example of the Chinese authorities’ systematic persecution of those who are brave enough to defend human rights in China today.

“Jiang Tianyong’s trial was a total sham. Even with the most rudimentary examination of the facts the case against him crumbles. His so-called confession and apology, most likely extracted under duress, were nothing more than an act of political theatre directed by the authorities.

“The Chinese state media claim that Jiang Tianyong’s trial is evidence of the rule of law in action but this is a dangerous fabrication. If there was any justice, Jiang Tianyong would be immediately and unconditionally released.”