Court Rejects Writer Zhang Lin's Appeal of Conviction for Subversive Writings

October 26, 2005

The High People's Court in Bengbu, Anhui province, rejected writer Zhang Lin's appeal of his conviction for subversion of state power, according to an October 15 report on the Boxun Web site. Zhang's wife told Boxun that officials at the Intermediate Court gave her the High Court's opinion on October 14, which stated simply: "Appeal rejected, original judgment upheld. This ruling is the final ruling."

The High People's Court in Bengbu, Anhui province, rejected writer Zhang Lin's appeal of his conviction for subversion of state power, according to an October 15 report on the Boxun Web site. Zhang's wife told Boxun that officials at the Intermediate Court gave her the High Court's opinion on October 14, which stated simply: "Appeal rejected, original judgment upheld. This ruling is the final ruling."

On July 28 the Intermediate People's Court in Bengbu sentenced Zhang to five years imprisonment for subverting state power in connection with articles he posted on the Internet and a radio interview he gave. On September 1, Zhang began a hunger strike to protest being forced to engage in hard labor and being deprived of access to information and his right to read and write. He was hospitalized several days later as a result. He began eating again on September 28 citing improved prison conditions, according to a letter from his wife posted on the Boxun Web site on October 12.

Commission staff have prepared a full translation of the Intermediate People's Court judgment.