Continuing its crackdown on government critics a court in China has upheld the conviction of Xu Zhiyong who has represented death row inmates and the families of those whose children were affected by tainted baby milk formula. Xu Zhiyong was convicted on charges unrelated to his activism.
Mr Xu, the founder of a transparency movement, had appealed against a lower court's decision to jail him for "gathering crowds to disrupt public order".Several other activists from the New Citizens' Movement have also been tried this year on similar charges.
The group has campaigned for government officials to disclose their assets.
On Tuesday, activists Ding Jiaxi and Li Wei also went on trial. They were due to go on trial in January but dismissed their lawyers, delaying proceedings.
Though an activist for transparency of government officials disclosing their financial assets he was convicted on the absurd charge of "gathering crowds."
When asked about Mr Xu's case, China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said during a regular press briefing: "China is a country with rule of law and all are equal before the law."Rule of law would be equal protection under said law which clearly Xu Zhiyong wasn't afforded, rule of law isn't whatever the government deems it to be, nor is it conveniently manipulated so that the outcome of trials falls in favor of the government.
"The relevant ruling was made in accordance with the law by Chinese judicial authorities," he added.
No matter, China follows the "rule of law" even if it is completely convoluted and weighted heavily in the Communist Parties favor
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