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Ding Jiaxi (Chinese: 丁家喜; born 17 August 1967) is a Chinese civil rights activist known for co-organizing the New Citizens' Movement advocating for political change in China. Ding was one of five dissidents detained after a secret meeting in Fujian.[1][2][3] He was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2022 for subversion of state power. In 2024, Ding was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize due to his "commitment to human rights and peace in China" by the chairs of Congressional-Executive Commission on China.[4]
Ding Jiaxi | |
---|---|
丁家喜 | |
Born | Hubei, China | 17 August 1967
Occupation(s) | Legal scholar, lecturer |
Known for | Civil rights advocacy, advocacy of constitutionalism |
Movement | New Citizens Movement |
Criminal charges | Disruption of public order (politically motivated) |
Criminal penalty | Imprisonment (12 Years) |
Conviction
editIn June 2022, Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong were given prison sentences for 14 and 12 years, respectively, after a closed-door trial in June 2022. The convictions were described as farcical by Human Rights Watch.[5]
In response, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated in April 2023 that "I am very concerned that two prominent human rights defenders in China – Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong – have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, at variance with international human rights law standards."[6]
Ding, along with Xu and human rights lawyer Chow Hang-tung, received the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) Human Rights Award 2023 for their "courage, determination and commitment to defending human rights and the rule of law in China". CCBE President Panagiotis Perakis stated that "European lawyers will continue to closely monitor the situation and support their Chinese colleagues who need help. We will never accept that lawyers are targeted because of their legitimate activities as lawyers."[7]
Ding was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 by chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China Christopher Smith and Jeff Merkley, commending on Ding's "deep commitment to human rights and peace in China".[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Buckley, Chris (January 8, 2022). "Trial Looms After Seaside Gathering of Chinese Activists" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Rights activist Ding Jiaxi investigated for 'incitement of subversion'". South China Morning Post. January 11, 2020.
- ^ "Concerns grow for health of rights lawyer, dissident detained in Xiamen crackdown". Radio Free Asia.
- ^ a b "Congressional-Executive Commission on China" (PDF). cecc.gov. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ Yong, Nicholas (10 April 2023). "China jails prominent legal activists Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi". BBC News. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "Comment by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on sentencing of human rights defenders in China". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. April 10, 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "CCBE Human Rights Award 2023" (PDF). Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe. Retrieved 17 May 2024.