On Thursday December 18, 2014, Beijing Haidian District People’s Court convicted rights activists Zhao Zhenjia, Cheng Yulan and Zhang Fuying on the criminal charge of creating a disturbance and each of them was sentenced to one year and ten months imprisonment.
A Boxun reporter contacted Zhao Zhenjia’s younger sister Zhao Zhenrong, who said: “Two of my older brother’s teeth were knocked out and his legs are still swollen. He is in poor health now.”
According to Internet news, more than a dozen activists including Lin Mingjie, Ju Xiaoling, Qin Shiwen, Wu Jixin, Yang Xiumei, and Hou Meiling were arrested and driven away when they went to the court to show support for Zhao Zhenjia. According to Zhao Zhenrong, questioning at the court entrance was strict and no vehicle was allowed to enter. Her cell phone was taken by the police when she entered. Zhao said that the hearing and argument were focused on several photos posted on the Boxun website. Zhao Zhenjia denied that he had forwarded them to Boxun.
Upon Zhao Zhenjia’s release on May 19, 2013 after serving his sentence, he and other petitioners went to Beijing South Railway Station and displayed banners that read “Rehabilitate Zhao Ziyang” and “Commemorate the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Massacre.” On June 9 of the same year, Zhao Zhenjia was criminally detained on suspicion of “creating a disturbance.” The sentence had been postponed until today.
Photo:Zhao Zhenjia was beaten when he was arrested
In 1974, Zhao Zhenjia was given a suspended death sentence for being a “counterrevolutionary prime culprit.” In 1985, he was declared not guilty by the Shenyang City Intermediate Court. Due to the delayed settlement for Zhao Zhenjia, he went to Beijing many times to petition. In 2000, Zhao Zhenjia was sent to a labor camp for three years by the Fushun City Education Through Labor Committee. In 2008, he was sent to the labor camp for 18 months by Fushun City Education Through Labor Committee. In 2012, Zhao Zhenjia was sent to a labor camp by the Beijing Municipa Education Through Labor Committee for 18 months for participating in rescuing petitioners who were illegally jailed at the Hunan Province, Chenzhou City Beijing Office. He was criminally detained shortly after he was released from prison.
