Human rights: Greens/EFA call for immediate EU and IOC response on Hu Jia verdict
Commenting on the three-and-a-half year jail sentence on subversion charges handed down to Hu Jia, a prominent Chinese human rights activist, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co-president of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament and Hélène Flautre, Chair of the European Parliament sub-committee on human rights, said:
"China must respond on two serious issues: the situation in Tibet and the wider repression of freedom of speech. The verdict against Hu Jia is unjustified, unacceptable and in total contravention of the Olympic Charter's principles.
The Greens/EFA Group sought to recognise Hu Jia and his wife, Zeng Jinyan, for their tireless work for HIV/AIDS and human rights by nominating them for the Sakharov Prize in 2007. It is scandalous that the Chinese authorities brazenly view these activities and freedom of expression as 'subversion'.
We call on China to order the immediate, unconditional release of Hu Jia, Yang Chunlin, and other political prisoners. Only this can begin to reverse the slide towards further repression and send a signal that China is fit to run the Olympic Games.
The European Union and International Olympic Committee must immediately issue a formal protest against the imprisonment of Hu Jia and call on the Chinese authorities in Beijing to immediately release him. This must happen before the Olympic Games to ensure smooth running of the event."
