Trial of Chinese activist begins

BBC

A prominent activist who publicised human rights abuses across China has gone on trial in the capital, Beijing.

Hu Jia, 34, is accused of “inciting subversion of state power and the socialist system”.

The charges relate to interviews he gave to foreign media and political articles that he wrote for the internet, his lawyer Li Fangping said.

Mr Hu was detained late last year and then charged. His wife, also an activist, remains under house arrest.

‘Grave violations’

Mr Hu went on trial at the Beijing Number 1 People’s Intermediate Court.

Western diplomats who tried to enter the court were turned away, the Associated Press news agency reported. [continues...]