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Trial of Chinese activist Xu Zhiyong may be imminent, says his lawyer Trial of Chinese activist Xu Zhiyong may be imminent, says his lawyer
(about 2 hours later)
Chinese authorities plan to hold a pretrial hearing for prominent activist Xu Zhiyong on Friday morning, his lawyer said, suggesting that his trial may be imminent.Chinese authorities plan to hold a pretrial hearing for prominent activist Xu Zhiyong on Friday morning, his lawyer said, suggesting that his trial may be imminent.
"Xu Zhiyong's condition is normal, and he's hoping for a fair trial," Xu's lawyer, Zhang Qingfang, said on Tuesday, adding that the exact date of the trial was still uncertain. If authorities bar Xu's defence witnesses from testifying – a common occurrence in politically sensitive cases – Xu will refuse to speak at the hearing, Zhang has said."Xu Zhiyong's condition is normal, and he's hoping for a fair trial," Xu's lawyer, Zhang Qingfang, said on Tuesday, adding that the exact date of the trial was still uncertain. If authorities bar Xu's defence witnesses from testifying – a common occurrence in politically sensitive cases – Xu will refuse to speak at the hearing, Zhang has said.
Xu is best known as the leader of the New Citizens' Movement, a loose-knit grassroots organisation that aims to promote human rights, government transparency and the rule of law. Xu was detained in July after leading a series of small-scale demonstrations urging officials to disclose their assets. Authorities responded by cracking down on the group – about 20 members were detained, and many are still awaiting trial.Xu is best known as the leader of the New Citizens' Movement, a loose-knit grassroots organisation that aims to promote human rights, government transparency and the rule of law. Xu was detained in July after leading a series of small-scale demonstrations urging officials to disclose their assets. Authorities responded by cracking down on the group – about 20 members were detained, and many are still awaiting trial.
Last month prosecutors formally accused Xu of "assembling a crowd to disrupt order in a public place", which, according to Zhang, carries a maximum five-year sentence. Xu denies the charge.Last month prosecutors formally accused Xu of "assembling a crowd to disrupt order in a public place", which, according to Zhang, carries a maximum five-year sentence. Xu denies the charge.
Xu, a former law lecturer at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, built a reputation for using the law to champion causes that seemingly dovetailed with official priorities, such as food safety and education equity. He became an international cause celebre in the late 2000s after offering legal assistance to families effected by a tainted milk formula scandal. Xu, a former law lecturer at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, built a reputation for using the law to champion causes that seemingly dovetailed with official priorities, such as food safety and education equity. He became an international cause celebre in the late 2000s after offering legal assistance to families affected by a tainted milk formula scandal.
Before president Xi Jinping was anointed in March, authorities generally tolerated Xu's activism, and many experts view the case as a barometer of the new administration's line on dissent. Before President Xi Jinping was anointed in March, authorities generally tolerated Xu's activism, and many experts view the case as a barometer of the new administration's line on dissent.
Eva Pils, a law professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said that the court would probably use the hearing to screen defence witnesses so that the trial can proceed with as little resistance as possible. "I'm sure the authorities want this trial to happen in a particular way," she said. "And they probably want to minimise the impact, the scandal that could arise from it." Eva Pils, a law professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, said the court would probably use the hearing to screen defence witnesses so that the trial can proceed with as little resistance as possible. "I'm sure the authorities want this trial to happen in a particular way," she said. "And they probably want to minimise the impact, the scandal that could arise from it."
Pretrial hearings have been allowed since China revised its criminal procedure law in 2012, she said. They are optional and decided by courts on a case-by-case basis.Pretrial hearings have been allowed since China revised its criminal procedure law in 2012, she said. They are optional and decided by courts on a case-by-case basis.
"The likelihood that the court will call witnesses that the defence has proposed is, of course, extremely low, as far as I can see," she said."The likelihood that the court will call witnesses that the defence has proposed is, of course, extremely low, as far as I can see," she said.
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