Activist Hu Shigen jailed for subverting state power

Activist Hu Shigen is sentenced to seven years and six months in prison for subverting state power at Tianjin No 2 Intermediate People's Court, Aug 3, 2016. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Tianjin No 2 Intermediate People's Court sentenced activist Hu Shigen to seven years and six months in prison for subverting state power on Wednesday, following a three-hour hearing.

Hu, 61, who used to be a teacher at a Beijing university, said after the announcement: "It is a fair judgment and I accept it. I will not appeal to a higher court."

The verdict said that Hu had asked another man named Gou Hongguo to attend anti-China forums overseas.

He also worked with lawyer Zhou Shifeng and activists Zhai Yanmin and Li Heping to protest the government by making use of hot topics to manipulate public opinion and petitions, according to the verdict.

All these activities were illegal and were carried out under an unregistered organization, which claimed to be a religious body led by Hu, the verdict said.

Hu confirmed that he broadcast subversive ideas to other members of the organization, saying that he aimed to overthrow the government, the court said.

He was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison for counter-revolution in 1994, but was released in 2008 following a sentence reduction.

Zhai was sentenced to three years in prison with a four-year reprieve for subversion on Tuesday.

Zhou, Li and Gou are being prosecuted in separate cases.