Human Rights Watch has called for the immediate release of Xie Yang, a well-known human rights lawyer, by Chinese authorities. Xie Yang was recently sentenced to five years in prison on alleged politically motivated charges of “inciting subversion of state power.” The advocacy group highlighted serious procedural violations and years of persecution in Xie’s case.
Maya Wang, Deputy Asia Director at HRW, criticized the Chinese authorities for their handling of Xie’s prosecution, stating that it demonstrates a lack of respect for the rule of law. Xie’s former wife, Chen Guiqiu, raised concerns about the legal proceedings, citing serious violations of due process protections.
Xie Yang’s pretrial detention was extended 13 times over four years, and his lawyers were reportedly prevented from participating in his hearings. HRW emphasized that Xie’s trial did not adhere to the right to a fair trial by an independent and impartial court as outlined in international human rights law.
Xie Yang, a 54-year-old lawyer from China’s Hunan province, has been known for defending activists and victims of rights abuses in sensitive cases. He has faced retaliation for his work, including torture and imprisonment during the ‘709 crackdown’ in 2015.
