BEIJING, China – Hu Jia, a prominent human rights activist and dissident, was denied a chance to appeal his 3.5 year sentence because prison guards prevented his lawyer from meeting with him.

Li Fangping, Hu Jia’s lawyer, said he went to the detention center on Monday to discuss Hu Jia’s final decision on whether to appeal. Li Fangping said he waited for several hours because guards would not allow him to see Hu Jia. After waiting, he decided to draft a motion for appeal that required Hu Jia’s signature. However, prison guards refused to give it to Hu Jia.

Hu Jia was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for inciting subversion. The charges were largely based on a blog he contributed to that provided information about other dissidents and social problems. Specifically, he wrote a series of essays that criticized the country’s human rights record.

For more information, please see:

Impunity Watch – UPDATE: Hu Jia, Chinese Dissident, Sentenced to 3.5 Years for Subversion – 3 April 2008

International Herald Tribune – Chinese Rights Activist Loses Chance to Appeal –18 April 2008