On Friday, followers posted photos they said showed obstacles erected around Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court, where the sentencing took place, with a heavy police appearance.
Attempts to contact the jury were unsuccessful, and the punishment is not now available on China’s federal prosecutor document database.
However, Huang’s supporters claimed he was accused of “publishing distorted, controversial articles and speeches on social media” and of “gathering outside organisers to take part in online training for “non-violent actions” as well.
“MALICIOUS, GROUNDLESS”
After returning from covering Hong Kong’s massive pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019, Huang had formerly been held by regulators.
She was expected to begin studying in the UK when she was detained once more in 2021.
Wang, described as a “low- report former” labour activist by friends, was accused on Friday of posting “untrue articles and speeches attacking China’s social structure and state”.
He had also joined” (subversive ) overseas online groups” including one commemorating the deadly Tiananmen Square crackdown of 1989, the court was quoted as saying.
Amnesty International’s China producer Sarah Brooks blasted the words as “malicious and utterly groundless beliefs”.
According to Brooks,” Sophia Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing were only imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of expression,” and they must become released as soon as possible.
The Committee to Protect Journalists called for Huang’s “unconditional and quick release and for the fees against her to remain dropped” earlier on Friday.
When asked about the sentencing, Beijing’s foreign ministry official Lin Jian defended the Taiwanese judiciary, stating that it “guarantees the legitimate right of every citizen in accordance with the law.”
” At the same time, everyone who breaks the law will get legal punishment”, Lin said, without confirming the details of the words.