The HRIC Daily Brief is a daily selection of news stories and commentary related to human rights in China, drawn from Chinese- and English-language news and online media sources that we monitor daily. In addition to headlines and source links, HRIC also provides English translation of Chinese headlines.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Human Rights Defenders (人权卫士)

北京宣判两起聚众扰乱公共场所秩序案 (Verdict reached in two “gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place” cases in Beijing)
Sina News, January 29, 2014
news.sina.com.cn/c/2014-01-29/094929374930.shtml

Chinese lawyers warn Communist Party will target legal teams
Telegraph, January 28, 2014
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/10601346/Chinese-lawyers-warn-Communist-Party-will-target-legal-teams.html

Five Chinese law professors argue Xu Zhiyong’s innocence
NTD News, January 28, 2014
www.ntd.tv/en/China%20Forbidden%20News/20140128/86586-five-chinese-law-professors-argue-xu-zhiyongs-innocence.html#sthash.IZx5dN8e.dpuf

See the professors' opinion:
为什么我们认为他无罪:对许志永聚众扰乱公共场所罪一审判决的法律意见 (Why we believe he is innocent: legal opinions concerning the first-instance conviction of Xu Zhiyong for gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place)
Minzhuzhongguo, January 27, 2014
minzhuzhongguo.org/ArtShow.aspx?AID=38321

Prominent Chinese rights activist to appeal sentence
Reuters, January 28, 2014
uk.reuters.com/article/2014/01/28/uk-china-activist-idUKBREA0R0FB20140128

For more information on Xu Zhiyong, see:
Four years for New Citizens Movement advocate Xu Zhiyong
新公民运动倡导者许志永被判刑4年
Human Rights in China, January 26, 2014
EN:www.hrichina.org/en/press-work/case-update/four-years-new-citizens-movement-advocate-xu-zhiyong
CH:http://www.hrichina.org/chs/xin-wen-gong-zuo/ge-gen-zong/xin-gong-min-yun-dong-chang-dao-zhe-xu-zhi-yong-bei-pan-xing-4nian

"For Freedom, Justice, and Love”—Xu Zhiyong’s Final Statement at Trial
许志永在法庭上的最后陈述
Human Rights in China, January 22, 2014
EN:http://www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/freedom-justice-and-love-xu-zhiyongs-final-statement-trial
CH: http://www.hrichina.org/chs/gong-min-yan-chang/xu-zhi-yong-zai-fa-ting-shang-de-zui-hou-chen-shu

Case document:
刑事判决书 (Xu Zhiyong's criminal verdict)
Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court, January 26, 2014
bj1zy.chinacourt.org/public/detail.php?id=951

Statement by lawyer Zhang Qingfang:
“Turning this Page, Let Life Start Anew”
翻过这一页,让生活重新开始--许志永的律师的声明
Human Rights in China, January 26, 2014
EN:www.hrichina.org/en/citizens-square/turning-page-let-life-start-anew-statement-xu-zhiyongs-lawyer
CH:http://www.hrichina.org/chs/gong-min-yan-chang/fan-guo-zhe-yi-ye-rang-sheng-huo-zhong-xin-kai-shi-xu-zhi-yong-de-lu-shi-de-sheng