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Beijing court rejects dissident's appeal

11/02/10February 11, 2010

A court in Beijing has rejected prominent dissident Liu Xiaobo’s appeal against an 11-year prison term. Liu's wife, who was present in court, said he had not even been allowed to speak at the hearing. Liu was sentenced on Dec. 25 on subversion charges.

https://p.dw.com/p/LzOP
Liu Xiaobo's wife Liu Xia
Liu Xiaobo's wife Liu XiaImage: AP

Liu Xiaobo was the co-author of Charter 08, a manifesto that calls for reform in the communist country. The US and the EU have criticised the court’s decision to uphold Liu’s jail sentence on Thursday and called for his immediate release. Human rights NGO Amnesty International said the case against Liu was proof that there wasno freedom of expression or independent judiciary in China.