UN and Amnesty International Demand Release of Chinese Lawyer Yu Wensheng and Wife Xu Yan
The United Nations Human Rights Office has expressed regret over the conviction and sentencing of human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife, Xu Yan. The couple was sentenced by Chinese authorities on October 29, with Yu receiving a three-year prison term and Xu a one-year and nine-month sentence. They were detained while trying to meet European Union officials in Beijing.
In a post on social media, the UN Human Rights Office stated, “We deeply regret the conviction and sentencing of prominent human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife, Xu Yan, to respectively 36 and 21 months of imprisonment on charges of ‘inciting state subversion.’ We urgently reiterate our calls for their immediate and unconditional release.”
Amnesty International also called for their urgent release, emphasizing that the couple was sentenced solely for exercising their human rights, including freedom of expression. They warned that the sentence could have a chilling effect on human rights defenders in China and their interactions with civil society groups and diplomatic representatives.
Yu and Xu were initially detained in April 2023 on charges of “picking quarrels and stirring up trouble” while heading to a meeting with EU officials. The court later convicted them of “incitement to subvert state power” after a trial attended by diplomats from over ten countries. The European Union has filed a formal complaint regarding the incident.
Doubts Revealed
UN -: The UN, or United Nations, is an international organization made up of countries from all over the world. It works to maintain peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, and promote social progress and human rights.
Amnesty International -: Amnesty International is a global organization that works to protect human rights. It investigates and exposes abuses, and campaigns for justice and freedom for people around the world.
Chinese Lawyer Yu Wensheng -: Yu Wensheng is a lawyer from China who works to protect people’s rights. He has been involved in cases that challenge the government, which is why he has faced legal troubles.
Xu Yan -: Xu Yan is the wife of Yu Wensheng. She has also been involved in human rights activities and was detained along with her husband.
Inciting state subversion -: Inciting state subversion is a charge used by some governments to accuse people of trying to overthrow or harm the government. It often involves actions or speech that the government sees as a threat.
EU -: The EU, or European Union, is a group of countries in Europe that work together on economic and political issues. They often engage in international matters, including human rights.
Diplomats -: Diplomats are officials who represent their country in foreign affairs. They work to maintain good relations between countries and often attend important events like trials.
