China jails rights activist Li Qiaochu for more than 3 years for subversion

Li, 33, has already been in custody for three years. The court ordered her to serve three years and eight months, and deprived her of her political rights – such as the right to publish – for two years. Her family has appealed against the decision.

Her trial was heard behind closed doors because, according to a copy of the court’s verdict, the evidence and electronic data related to the case were regarded as “state secrets”.

The verdict said that at Xu’s request, Li helped him build a website for his personal blog in September 2019 and upload an archive of 273 articles Xu had written.

A friend overseas helped Xu to publish new articles on the website.

The verdict said Li’s actions of “publishing subversive articles” helped to “spread Xu’s advocacy” and amounted to an offence.

It quoted a witness describing Xu’s articles as advocating subversion through “non-violent” ways, but did not give details of the content.

Friends of the activist said Li’s parents saw their daughter in court on Monday for the first time since her arrest in 2021. They said she had gained an abnormal amount of weight and “looked totally different” after having been given inappropriate medication.

China arrests girlfriend of detained legal activist on subversion charge

Li’s mother has repeatedly applied for bail for Li and permission to see her daughter but none has been granted, according to the friends.

The friends also said Li had complained of a series of health problems, including hallucinations.

The European Union Delegation to China demanded Li’s “immediate and unconditional release on medical grounds”, adding that she had worked for the rights of migrant workers and women.

Li’s partner Xu was detained in the southern city of Guangzhou in February 2020, two months after he attended a gathering of activists in Xiamen, in the southeastern province of Fujian, and went into hiding.

He was sentenced last year along with rights activist Ding Jiaxi, who was ordered to serve 12 years in prison.

Li was released after 24 hours and posted online about being handcuffed and questioned repeatedly.

After Xu and Ding were arrested, she continued to post updates on the men and their mistreatment in custody.

She was repeatedly questioned by the police and placed under residential surveillance – a form of detention at a secret location without access to family or a lawyer – for 120 days in 2020, according to her close friends.

In March 2021, Li was formally charged with “inciting subversion of state power” at more than a month in detention.