A court in the central Chinese province of Hubei on Tuesday handed down a five-year jail term to the founder of a human rights website after finding him guilty of subversion.
Citizen journalist and rights activist Liu Feiyue, who founded the Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch website, was jailed for five years by the Suizhou Intermediate People's Court, which found him guilty of "incitement to subvert state power."
A source close to Liu said he would appeal the sentence.
"He got five years," the source said. "He will definitely be appealing."
A friend of Liu's surnamed Li said that around 200 supporters had attempted to travel to the court building for the sentencing hearing, but had been confronted by a strong police presence.
"There were several police vehicles there, and the police were blocking the gates and all of the intersections, so we couldn't get in," Li said. "A lot of people were prevented from going during the train trip to Hubei."
"Some drove there, but they weren't allowed in when they did arrive," she said.
A supporter surnamed Ling said the area around the court building had been cordoned off since Monday evening.
"There were police at every intersection, so people couldn't get in," she said. "Also, you have to show your ID card to buy a train ticket, so they wouldn't let us travel; there were quite a few of us."
Condemnation from US, leading rights groups
Rights lawyer Ren Quanniu said he was unsurprised by the sentence.
"Looking at it realistically, it is within expectations for this kind of charge," Ren said. "Of course, by its very nature, the sentence should never have been passed."
"I don't think he will get the guilty verdict overturned on appeal, but it's still worth doing, because it shows that he is holding firm to his own world view," he said.
Liu's sentencing drew immediate condemnation and calls for his release from international human rights groups.
"Liu Feiyue set up the website to report on grassroots rights issues," Maya Wang, senior China researcher for the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), told RFA. "The freedom of expression is protected by the Chinese constitution, as well as international human rights conventions."
"He should never have been sentenced for engaging in peaceful, reasonable and legal activities," she said.
In Washington, the State Department called for Wang's release.
"We are troubled that China has subjected Mr. Wang to a three-and-a-half-year period of pre-trial detention, and (that he) has been held incommunicado, has been deprived of legal counsel of his choosing, and that his chosen lawyer has been subjected to reprisals," said a statement by deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino.
"We remain concerned by the deteriorating situation for the rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms in China, and continue to urge China to uphold its international human rights commitments and to respect the rule of law," said the statement.
Volunteers at the Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch offices had previously said that Liu also stands accused of receiving overseas funding to run the group.
President Xi Jinping has repeatedly warned against "hostile foreign forces" attempting to overthrow the ruling Chinese Communist Party by infiltrating China with "Western" religious practices and ideas like democracy, constitutional government, and human rights.
Wang said the ruling Chinese Communist Party has been engaged in a nationwide crackdown on any non-government or civil organization in receipt of international funding.
"Chinese rights websites have had a very hard time of it financially since the Foreign NGO Law took effect," Wang said. "There has been a tightening of the regulations around overseas funding in recent years."
In a statement on its website, HRW called on the Chinese authorities to "immediately quash the conviction and unconditionally release" Liu.
'Deplorable verdict'
It said the prosecution against Liu has been marred by denial of his right to legal counsel and other due process violations.
Liu was accused at his trial last year of “attacking the current political system,” “defaming the Chinese government,” and “spreading information harming state power and the Socialist system” through the articles and reports he published.
Meanwhile, Patrick Poon, China researcher for London-based Amnesty International, said the sentence was "deplorable."
"Today’s deplorable verdict against Liu Feiyue has nothing to do with justice," Poon said in a statement. "He is a Prisoner of Conscience who must be immediately and unconditionally released."
"Through his website, Liu Feiyue shone a light on the human rights violations faced by many people in China," Poon said.
"He should not have been prosecuted nor spent a single day in prison for solely exercising his right to freedom of expression."
Liu, 48, has been targeted for police harassment since he founded Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch in 2006, and has been routinely detained or placed under house arrest during politically sensitive events.
Liu was initially detained on Nov. 17, 2016, and placed under criminal investigation for "incitement to subvert state power."
Liu was among more than 300 lawyers, law firm staff, rights activists, and relatives who were detained, questioned, or placed under surveillance or other restrictions in a nationwide police operation targeting the legal profession and related activists launched in July 2015.
Reported by Wong Lok-to for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Gao Feng for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.