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Human Rights Commissioner Kofler on the sentence handed down to the Chinese human rights activist Liu Feiyue
Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office Dr Bärbel Kofler issued the following statement today (29 January) on the sentence handed down to the Chinese human rights activist Liu Feiyue:
As the founder of the website Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch, Liu Feiyue worked to help the victims of human rights violations in China. His engagement was directed both at human rights activists who suffered state reprisals and people who had been driven off their land. I am appalled that today he has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment as a result of his engagement for others. Like many other political prisoners in China, Liu Feiyue was denied a trial in accordance with rule-of-law principles.
I appeal to the Chinese Government to respect the right to freedom of expression instead of sentencing citizens with outstanding public spirit to many years’ imprisonment.
The Federal Government has followed Liu Feiyue’s case with great concern and attention since his arrest in November 2016, and will continue to work for his cause.
Background information:
Today, the Chinese human rights defender and founder of the website Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch Liu Feiyue was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by the Suizhou Intermediate People’s Court for inciting subversion of state power. He was arrested on 18 November 2016. The trial took place on 7 August 2018.