BEIJING, China – On Tuesday Hu Jia, a prominent human rights activist and dissident, stood trial on subversion charges. His trial lasted approximately three hours. Hu Jia was charged of subversion for writing articles that criticized China for its human rights record. Prosecutors provided six articles he had written, which they suggested featured criticisms so serious that they were threats to the state. After the trial, Hu Jia’s lawyer, Li Fangping, said, “We believe his articles are expressing peaceful views that do not concern state security but that represent criticism of the current system.” The parties expect a verdict in the next week.

Human Rights Watch [HRW] has publicly criticized the matter and called forChina to drop the charges against Hu Jia. Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director at HRW, commented on Hu Jia’s case, “His arrest was political, the charges are political, and his trial is political

Human rights groups have pointed to Hu Jia’s recent arrest and trial as an unfortunate but common occurrence in China. Many allege that China has recently cracked down on dissidents to silence criticism before the Olympic Games. According to the Dua Hia foundation, a non-profit group located in San Francisco that is involved in Chinese legal issues, there has been a sharp increase in arrests for subversion and other related crimes. In 2007, 742 people were arrested for charges like subversion, which is more than twice the amount of persons arrested in 2005.

For more information, please see:

HRW – China: Trial of Leading Activist a Sham – 17 March 2008

Impunity Watch – Chinese Dissidents Detained and to Stand Trial for Criticisms– 10 March 2008

The New York Times – Chinese Rights Advocate Tried – 19 March 2008