China court sentences Xu Zhiyong to four years in jail
Monday, 27 January 2014
A Chinese court has sentenced prominent human rights activist Xu Zhiyong to four years in prison, reports BBC.
Xu, who campaigned for children's rights and against corruption, was convicted of "gathering crowds to disrupt public order".
Several other activists from a transparency movement are facing similar charges.
Rights groups have criticised President Xi Jinping - who pledged to fight corruption - over their cases.
Xu was arrested in July 2013 and the trial began on Wednesday.
Reacting to the verdict, Xu's lawyer Zhang Qingfang said his client had told the court that "the last shred of dignity of China's rule of law" had been destroyed.