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| Pu Zhiqiang: Chinese court convicts prominent human rights lawyer who defended Ai Weiwei over Weibo posts | Pu Zhiqiang: Chinese court convicts prominent human rights lawyer who defended Ai Weiwei over Weibo posts |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer who has defended dissident artist Ai Weiwei and labour camp victims has been convicted over comments made on social media. | A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer who has defended dissident artist Ai Weiwei and labour camp victims has been convicted over comments made on social media. |
| Pu Zhiqiang was handed a three-year suspended sentence for “inciting ethnic hatred” and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, according to CCTV state television. | Pu Zhiqiang was handed a three-year suspended sentence for “inciting ethnic hatred” and “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, according to CCTV state television. |
| Tuesday’s ruling by the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court forbids him from practicing law for life and will keep him under strict probation conditions during the suspension period. | Tuesday’s ruling by the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court forbids him from practicing law for life and will keep him under strict probation conditions during the suspension period. |
| Police and security officers prevented a crowd of supporters and journalists, with at least one protester being hauled away by police while diplomats from the US and EU said they were refused entry to the hearing. | Police and security officers prevented a crowd of supporters and journalists, with at least one protester being hauled away by police while diplomats from the US and EU said they were refused entry to the hearing. |
| The case was sparked by seven posts between 2011 and 2014 on Weibo – China’s state-censored social media site – which mocked the Communist Party and questioned policies towards ethnic minorities in Xinjiang province. | The case was sparked by seven posts between 2011 and 2014 on Weibo – China’s state-censored social media site – which mocked the Communist Party and questioned policies towards ethnic minorities in Xinjiang province. |
| Mr Ai, who Mr Pu represented during the artists battle against tax authorities in 2012, told Reuters he was not guilty of any offence. | Mr Ai, who Mr Pu represented during the artists battle against tax authorities in 2012, told Reuters he was not guilty of any offence. |
| “He should receive an apology from the state and compensation,” he added. | “He should receive an apology from the state and compensation,” he added. |
| Mr Pu has been released into ”residential surveillance“ - a form of detention used to keep Chinese dissidents away from the public eye - for 10 days before being allowed to return to his home in Beijing, according to his lawyer. | Mr Pu has been released into ”residential surveillance“ - a form of detention used to keep Chinese dissidents away from the public eye - for 10 days before being allowed to return to his home in Beijing, according to his lawyer. |
| He had already spent nearly 19 months in detention before his trial last week, which lasted just over three hours. | He had already spent nearly 19 months in detention before his trial last week, which lasted just over three hours. |
| Mr Pu has represented other well-known dissidents, including activists in the ”New Citizens' Movement“, which called on Chinese leaders to make their wealth public. | Mr Pu has represented other well-known dissidents, including activists in the ”New Citizens' Movement“, which called on Chinese leaders to make their wealth public. |
| He also was instrumental in pushing for the eventual abolishment of China's labour camp system, which allowed police to imprison people for up to four years without a trial. | He also was instrumental in pushing for the eventual abolishment of China's labour camp system, which allowed police to imprison people for up to four years without a trial. |
| Mr Pu was detained shortly after attending a meeting to discuss commemorating the 25 year anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in May last year | Mr Pu was detained shortly after attending a meeting to discuss commemorating the 25 year anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in May last year |
| His lawyers said he could have faced eight years in prison but activists said the milder sentence passed down would still serve as a message to other rights lawyers that the Communist Party, currently engaged in a severe clampdown on dissent, would allow no challenge to its rule. | His lawyers said he could have faced eight years in prison but activists said the milder sentence passed down would still serve as a message to other rights lawyers that the Communist Party, currently engaged in a severe clampdown on dissent, would allow no challenge to its rule. |
| Shang Baojun, who represented Mr Pu, said his client was relieved and would not be launching an appeal. | Shang Baojun, who represented Mr Pu, said his client was relieved and would not be launching an appeal. |
| "He said he thanks everyone and he wants to rest,“ he added. “He also said if there's an opportunity, history will deliver a true judgment.” | "He said he thanks everyone and he wants to rest,“ he added. “He also said if there's an opportunity, history will deliver a true judgment.” |
| State news agency Xinhua said the court decided “to impose a lenient punishment” due to “the fact that the defendant Pu Zhiqiang truthfully confessed to the facts of the crime and positively pleaded guilty”. | State news agency Xinhua said the court decided “to impose a lenient punishment” due to “the fact that the defendant Pu Zhiqiang truthfully confessed to the facts of the crime and positively pleaded guilty”. |
| But Mr Shang said his client had done no such thing, telling journalists he told the court he had broken no law. | But Mr Shang said his client had done no such thing, telling journalists he told the court he had broken no law. |
| The US said through its embassy that it was concerned about the suspended sentence and urged authorities to restore Mr Pu’s rights and let him resume his work. | The US said through its embassy that it was concerned about the suspended sentence and urged authorities to restore Mr Pu’s rights and let him resume his work. |
| Firefighters walk through smoke while fighting a forest fire near the Basque town of Berango, near Bilbao, northern Spain, | |
| A reveller takes part in the "Enfarinats" battle in the southeastern Spanish town of Ibi. During this 200-year-old traditional festival participants known as Els Enfarinats (those covered in flour) dress in mock military clothes and stage a mock coup d'etat as they battle using flour, eggs and firecrackers outside the city town hall as part of the celebrations of the Day of the Innocents. | |
| Vatican Gendarme adjusts his cloak as Pope Francis celebrates the holy Mass for the families in St.Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, | Vatican Gendarme adjusts his cloak as Pope Francis celebrates the holy Mass for the families in St.Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, |
| A man walks near a building on fire following a reported air strike by government forces in the rebel-held region of Eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus. Syria's nearly five-year war has left more than 250,000 dead and forced some 12 million people from their homes | A man walks near a building on fire following a reported air strike by government forces in the rebel-held region of Eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus. Syria's nearly five-year war has left more than 250,000 dead and forced some 12 million people from their homes |
| A local dressed up in the traditional "caretos" costume poses during a winter mascarade in the northern Portuguese parish of Parada de Grijo, some 20 km from Braganca, during the Sao Estebao festivities | A local dressed up in the traditional "caretos" costume poses during a winter mascarade in the northern Portuguese parish of Parada de Grijo, some 20 km from Braganca, during the Sao Estebao festivities |
| An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man gestures the v-sign for victory from behind police tape at the site of a reported attack by a Palestinian assailant near Jerusalem's Old City. "Police officers spotted a man who aroused their suspicions and approached him to check," a police spokeswoman said. "The terrorist pulled out a knife and tried to stab the policeman and was quickly killed by police gunfire." | An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man gestures the v-sign for victory from behind police tape at the site of a reported attack by a Palestinian assailant near Jerusalem's Old City. "Police officers spotted a man who aroused their suspicions and approached him to check," a police spokeswoman said. "The terrorist pulled out a knife and tried to stab the policeman and was quickly killed by police gunfire." |
| Children queue to receive food and toys during a distribution by members of the Youth Movement for the Future of Ivory Coast (REJACI) in a poor neighbourhood in the suburb of Cocody, in Abidjan | Children queue to receive food and toys during a distribution by members of the Youth Movement for the Future of Ivory Coast (REJACI) in a poor neighbourhood in the suburb of Cocody, in Abidjan |
| Maxi yacht Comanche powers through heavy swells outside Sydney's harbour during the 71st Sydney to Hobart Yacht race, Australia's premiere bluewater classic race. | Maxi yacht Comanche powers through heavy swells outside Sydney's harbour during the 71st Sydney to Hobart Yacht race, Australia's premiere bluewater classic race. |
| Fire photographer Tod Sudmeier gets hit with flying embers from strong winds at the Solimar brush fire that started early Saturday morning in Ventura County, California. A wildfire in Southern California burned over 1,000 acres of land, forced the closure of parts of two major highways and led to evacuations on Saturday, fire officials said. | Fire photographer Tod Sudmeier gets hit with flying embers from strong winds at the Solimar brush fire that started early Saturday morning in Ventura County, California. A wildfire in Southern California burned over 1,000 acres of land, forced the closure of parts of two major highways and led to evacuations on Saturday, fire officials said. |
| Novice Buddhist monks react to the camera during the Jangchup Lamrim teachings conducted by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (not pictured) at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe in Karnataka, India | Novice Buddhist monks react to the camera during the Jangchup Lamrim teachings conducted by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (not pictured) at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe in Karnataka, India |
| Pope Francis waves during the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and the World) Christmas message from the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican | Pope Francis waves during the "Urbi et Orbi" (to the City and the World) Christmas message from the balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican |
| Winter swimmers (L) look on as a man (R) wearing a Santa Claus hat and beard jumps into a pool carved into thick ice covering the Songhua River, to celebrate the upcoming Christmas, in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China, | Winter swimmers (L) look on as a man (R) wearing a Santa Claus hat and beard jumps into a pool carved into thick ice covering the Songhua River, to celebrate the upcoming Christmas, in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China, |
| Fruits are displayed for sale at a market in Hanoi, Vietnam. Vietnam saw record low inflation of 0.63 percent in 2015 but the rate could rise to 5 percent next year on anticipated increases in electricity, education and healthcare prices, the government said on Thursday. The inflation average was the lowest since Vietnam started calculating it in 2006, which the General Statistics Office (GSO) attributed to falling oil prices globally. | Fruits are displayed for sale at a market in Hanoi, Vietnam. Vietnam saw record low inflation of 0.63 percent in 2015 but the rate could rise to 5 percent next year on anticipated increases in electricity, education and healthcare prices, the government said on Thursday. The inflation average was the lowest since Vietnam started calculating it in 2006, which the General Statistics Office (GSO) attributed to falling oil prices globally. |
| The child of Kurdish migrants stands outside a tent at the Grande Synthe migrant camp near Dunkerque in northern France. More than 2,000 migrants, mostly Iraqis and Kurds, live in the camp. The UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said this week more than one million migrants and refugees reached Europe this year, most of them by sea, more than four times the figure for 2014 | The child of Kurdish migrants stands outside a tent at the Grande Synthe migrant camp near Dunkerque in northern France. More than 2,000 migrants, mostly Iraqis and Kurds, live in the camp. The UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said this week more than one million migrants and refugees reached Europe this year, most of them by sea, more than four times the figure for 2014 |
| A diver dressed as Santa Claus greets children during a show before Christmas at the Aquarium of Paris | A diver dressed as Santa Claus greets children during a show before Christmas at the Aquarium of Paris |
| Expedition 46 Flight Engineer Tim Kopra on a spacewalk, in which Kopra and Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly successfully moved the International Space Station's mobile transporter rail car ahead of Wednesday's docking of a Russian cargo supply spacecraft. | Expedition 46 Flight Engineer Tim Kopra on a spacewalk, in which Kopra and Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly successfully moved the International Space Station's mobile transporter rail car ahead of Wednesday's docking of a Russian cargo supply spacecraft. |
| Aisha, 15, (L) (who asked to withhold her last name), a Syrian refugee from Raqqa, waits with a fellow refugee while harvesting cannabis in the Bekaa valley, Lebanon. Syrian refugees work to harvest and process spiky-leafed cannabis plants in neighboring Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Often farmers of cotton and wheat back home in Raqqa province - now the de facto capital of Islamic State - the conflict in Syria drove them to seek safety in a region where Syrian migrant workers used to spend a few months a year before returning home. | Aisha, 15, (L) (who asked to withhold her last name), a Syrian refugee from Raqqa, waits with a fellow refugee while harvesting cannabis in the Bekaa valley, Lebanon. Syrian refugees work to harvest and process spiky-leafed cannabis plants in neighboring Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. Often farmers of cotton and wheat back home in Raqqa province - now the de facto capital of Islamic State - the conflict in Syria drove them to seek safety in a region where Syrian migrant workers used to spend a few months a year before returning home. |
| Students dressed up as Christmas gifts take part in a Christmas parade in Beirut, Lebanon, | Students dressed up as Christmas gifts take part in a Christmas parade in Beirut, Lebanon, |
| The first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket returns to land in a time exposure at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, on the launcher's first mission since a June failure, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket carried a payload of eleven satellites owned by Orbcomm, a New Jersey-based communications company. | The first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket returns to land in a time exposure at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, on the launcher's first mission since a June failure, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket carried a payload of eleven satellites owned by Orbcomm, a New Jersey-based communications company. |
| Russian Communist party supporters hold portraits of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin as they take part in a ceremony to mark the 136th anniversary of his birth at Red Square in Moscow | Russian Communist party supporters hold portraits of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin as they take part in a ceremony to mark the 136th anniversary of his birth at Red Square in Moscow |
| AFP/Getty | AFP/Getty |
| Rescuers look for survivors after a landslide hit an industrial park in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province. A massive landslide at an industrial park in southern China buried 22 buildings and left 22 people missing, state media reported, as more than 1,500 emergency workers searched the scene. | Rescuers look for survivors after a landslide hit an industrial park in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province. A massive landslide at an industrial park in southern China buried 22 buildings and left 22 people missing, state media reported, as more than 1,500 emergency workers searched the scene. |
| Left-wing Podemos (We Can) party leader Pablo Iglesias casts his vote in Spain's general election in Madrid, Spain | Left-wing Podemos (We Can) party leader Pablo Iglesias casts his vote in Spain's general election in Madrid, Spain |
| Reuters | Reuters |
| A man prepares decorations ahead of the birthday of Prophet Mohammed in Sidon, south Lebanon | A man prepares decorations ahead of the birthday of Prophet Mohammed in Sidon, south Lebanon |
| Reuters | Reuters |
| US Press Secretary Josh Earnest speaks to the press in the briefing room at the White House in Washington, DC, with Star Wars characters R2D2 and Storm Troopers. The new Star Wars movie "The Force Awakens" was shown at the White House for children of military families. | US Press Secretary Josh Earnest speaks to the press in the briefing room at the White House in Washington, DC, with Star Wars characters R2D2 and Storm Troopers. The new Star Wars movie "The Force Awakens" was shown at the White House for children of military families. |
| AFP | AFP |
| A couple carrying a freshly cut Christmas tree at a plantation in Negenborn, Germany | A couple carrying a freshly cut Christmas tree at a plantation in Negenborn, Germany |
| Paratroopers from the Qatari armed forces take part in Qatar's National Day celebrations in Doha | Paratroopers from the Qatari armed forces take part in Qatar's National Day celebrations in Doha |
| Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives the final touches to his sand sculpture of Mother Teresa at steel city Rourkela in Sundargarh district, in the north-west tip of Orissa state. Pope Francis has recognised a second miracle attributed to the late Mother Teresa, clearing the path for the nun to be elevated to sainthood next year, the Vatican said | Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives the final touches to his sand sculpture of Mother Teresa at steel city Rourkela in Sundargarh district, in the north-west tip of Orissa state. Pope Francis has recognised a second miracle attributed to the late Mother Teresa, clearing the path for the nun to be elevated to sainthood next year, the Vatican said |
| A Haitian journalist covering demonstrators marching to the Ballot Tabulation Center in Sonapi, to protest against the Provisional Electoral Council, the election results and also to request an independent commission to review the election outcome, is overcome by tear gas fired by police in Port-au-Prince | A Haitian journalist covering demonstrators marching to the Ballot Tabulation Center in Sonapi, to protest against the Provisional Electoral Council, the election results and also to request an independent commission to review the election outcome, is overcome by tear gas fired by police in Port-au-Prince |
| Bangladeshi children attend a rally during the Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladesh marks its 44th Victory Day across the country remembering the country's war heroes. Bangladesh became a free nation on 16 December 1971 after a nine-month bloody war with Pakistan | Bangladeshi children attend a rally during the Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladesh marks its 44th Victory Day across the country remembering the country's war heroes. Bangladesh became a free nation on 16 December 1971 after a nine-month bloody war with Pakistan |
| Filipino children rest next to damaged houses in the typhoon-hit town of Magallanes, Sorsogon province, southern Manila, Philippines. At least four people were killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced as a powerful typhoon pummelled the Philippines for the second day, officials said. Typhoon Melor also toppled trees and electric posts, totally and partially destroyed houses, as well as rice paddies submerged in waters, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Thousands of air and sea passengers were stranded in different ports and airports as 64 domestic flights were cancelled while hundreds of ships stopped from sailing due to bad weather | Filipino children rest next to damaged houses in the typhoon-hit town of Magallanes, Sorsogon province, southern Manila, Philippines. At least four people were killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced as a powerful typhoon pummelled the Philippines for the second day, officials said. Typhoon Melor also toppled trees and electric posts, totally and partially destroyed houses, as well as rice paddies submerged in waters, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Thousands of air and sea passengers were stranded in different ports and airports as 64 domestic flights were cancelled while hundreds of ships stopped from sailing due to bad weather |
| Soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) jump as part of their winter training in temperature of negative 26 degrees Celsius at China's border with Russia in Heihe, Heilongjiang province, China | Soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) jump as part of their winter training in temperature of negative 26 degrees Celsius at China's border with Russia in Heihe, Heilongjiang province, China |
| But Hong Lei, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said foreign governments must respect China's judicial sovereignty and should not interfere. | But Hong Lei, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said foreign governments must respect China's judicial sovereignty and should not interfere. |
| Amnesty International welcomed the suspended sentence but condemned the guilty verdict. | Amnesty International welcomed the suspended sentence but condemned the guilty verdict. |
| “Clearly it is positive that Pu Zhiqiang is unlikely to spend another night in jail, yet that cannot hide the gross injustice against him,” William Nee, China researcher for the group, said in a statement. | “Clearly it is positive that Pu Zhiqiang is unlikely to spend another night in jail, yet that cannot hide the gross injustice against him,” William Nee, China researcher for the group, said in a statement. |
| “He is no criminal and this guilty verdict effectively shackles one of China's bravest champions of human rights from practicing law.” | “He is no criminal and this guilty verdict effectively shackles one of China's bravest champions of human rights from practicing law.” |
| Since coming to power in 2013, President Xi Jinping has spearheaded crackdowns on civil activists, rights lawyers and online freedom of expression, in moves aimed at snuffing out any potential threats to the Communist Party's grip on power. | Since coming to power in 2013, President Xi Jinping has spearheaded crackdowns on civil activists, rights lawyers and online freedom of expression, in moves aimed at snuffing out any potential threats to the Communist Party's grip on power. |
| Additional reporting by AP and Reuters | Additional reporting by AP and Reuters |