Chinese Lawyer Guilty Of ‘Provoking Trouble’

A Chinese court convicted one of China’s most prominent human rights lawyers on Tuesday for seven online posts that criticized the government, but handed down a three-year suspended sentence that would result in his immediate release from custody.

The court said Pu Zhiqiang was guilty of provoking troubles and inciting ethnic hatred, and sentenced him to three years in prison but also announced that the sentence will be suspended for three years.

A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer who has defended dissident artist Ai Weiwei and labour camp victims has been convicted over comments made on social media.

Another Weibo user wrote that “we have to understand that Pu is unwilling to plead guilty because doing so is not only dishonest to himself but also a deceit to the country, the government and the public”.

The verdict is the latest in a widening crackdown on civil society under President Xi Jinping, with more than 200 lawyers and activists detained or called in for questioning since the summer.

Chinese leaders have promised to cut costs for businesses to promote economic growth next year, reduce financial risks and eliminate excessive production capacity that is a drag on some industries.

Amnesty International criticised the guilty verdict as a “gross injustice”, but welcomed the deferred sentence.

While Pu had seemingly been given a light sentence-he faced up to 8 years in jail-Beijing-based Chinese dissident Hu Jia said he felt “not one shred of joy or optimism” at the pronouncement.

“He’s innocent, he’s innocent”, said Guan Jing, a supporter of lawyer Pu Zhiqiang.

The state-run Global Times newspaper said in an editorial at the time that he had crossed “a legal red line” by associating himself with a topic still considered taboo in China.

After a prolonged investigation, Pu stood trial on December 14 – after more than 19 months in detention – for several of his online comments that questioned Beijing’s ethnic policies and poked fun at some political figures.

Reached by phone shortly after the sentencing, one of Pu’s lawyers, Mo Shaoping, said he did not agree with the court, but was relieved for Pu and his family.

Although Pu has argued that his actions should be protected under China’s constitutional guarantees to free speech, he told the court on Tuesday that he has no intention to appeal. And with four entries about social issues, Pu “disturbed public order” by “posting derogatory content”.

He said Pu’s conciliatory attitude had been taken into account in passing sentence. He never pleaded guilty, nevertheless.

They pushed foreign journalists away, and tried to disrupt a speech given by USA embassy diplomat Dan Biers, who was reading from a statement outside.

On Tuesday morning, police detained at least 12 activists outside Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court who had come to show their support for Pu Zhiqiang.