On 28 January, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service called for the immediate release of Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang and other detained and convicted human rights activists and lawyers, including Huang Qi, Li Feiyue, Ilham Tohti, Tashi Wangchuk, Li Yuhan, Qin Yongmin, Gao Zhisheng, Yu Wensheng and European citizen Gui Minhai.
Wang Quanzhang - who disappeared in 2015 - was sentenced to four years and six months in prison on 26 December for ‘subversion of state power’; the sentence was announced on 28 January 2019. “The defendants’ rights, under China's Criminal Procedure Law and international law obligations, to a fair trial without undue delay, a proper defence and access to a lawyer of their own choice, were not respected”, the spokesperson said, adding that family members and the public, including journalists and diplomats, were denied access to the trial as observers.
The spokesperson also called on the Chinese authorities to investigate, without delay, allegations of serious mistreatment of Wang Quanzhang during his detention that may amount to torture.
“The European Union expects the Chinese authorities [...] to abide by China's international law obligations, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and respect the rights of all citizens as guaranteed by China's Constitution”, she added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)