Human rights defender Mr Huang Qi was sentenced today to three years in prison on charges of illegally possessing state secrets. Huang Qi is a human rights activist who helped families of children who died during the earthquake in Sichuan Province, China in May 2008. He has been in custody since his arrest in June 2008.

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Huang Qi's wife, Zeng Li, who attended his trial at Wuhou District People's Court in Chengdu, reported that he received the maximum possible sentence for possession of state secrets during a 10-minute hearing. However, the judge and prosecutors did not elaborate on which secrets he was alleged to posses. Zeng Li reported that they declined to provide her with a copy of the verdict. “They still won't say what the specific charge is, not even at the verdict”, she said. “They just spoke of documents related to a certain matter”.

Huang Qi's lawyer, Ding Xikui, indicated that they intended to appeal the verdict, and stated that the court was legally obliged to give the written verdict to Huang's family and attorneys. Huang Qi was initially arrested on 10 June 2008 by police and detained at Chengdu City Detention Centre. He was formally arrested on 18 July 2008 on charges of illegal possession of state secrets, after detention without charge for 37 days. Amnesty International report that he was treated badly whilst in custody, being subject to prolonged interrogations, possibly deprived of sleep, and was denied proper medical care.

Over 80,000 people died as a result of the earthquake in Sichuan on 12 May 2008, many of whom were children crushed in collapsed school buildings. Huang Qi offered to help parents protest that the school buildings were vulnerable to collapse due to corruption and sub-standard building practices. It has been reported by the authorities that 5,335 schoolchildren died in the earthquake or remain missing. Huang Qi previously ran the Tianwang Human Rights Centre and a website, “64tianwang”, which was critical of restrictions on political rights. He was jailed from 2003 - 2005 for “inciting subversion” as a result of criticism of the suppression of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989.

Front Line believes that the sentencing of Huang Qi is a direct result of his peaceful and legitimate work in the defence of human rights. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Huang Qi. Front Line reported Huang Qi's formal arrest on 22 July 2008 – see Original Front Line Appeal.