June 18 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The United States Government has condemned the “unfair sentences” against journalist Huang Xueqin, promoter of the #MeToo movement in the Asian giant and sentenced to five years in prison by a court in China, and against activist Wang Jianbing, sentenced to three years and a half in prison, both for “inciting the subversion of State power.”
“These sentences demonstrate the continuous efforts of the People’s Republic of China to intimidate and silence civil society,” reads a statement from the State Department in which it denounces that the sentence has come after “a long preventive detention and a closed secret trial.” to journalists or the public.
Washington has urged Beijing to “immediately” release both, as well as “other people unjustly detained for exercising their fundamental freedoms”, while calling for it to comply with “its international commitments and respect the human rights of all people.” , including freedom of expression and fair trial guarantees.”
Huang, 36, was one of the most prominent voices of the #MeToo movement in China, reporting on whistleblower cases and recounting her experiences as a victim of sexual harassment at a news agency. In addition, she started a blog on the WeChat messaging application to conduct surveys on workplace harassment.
Both Huang and Wang — a workers’ rights activist — were charged for their actions at meetings they organized to discuss feminism, labor issues and LGBTQ rights. The journalist was arrested one day before traveling to the United Kingdom to study for a master’s degree.
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