EU criticises Chinese dissident's sentence
(BRUSSELS) - The Swedish EU presidency condemned Friday a Beijing court's decision to jail Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo for 11 years, saying it raised concerns about freedom of speech and right to a fair trial in China.
"The Presidency of the European Union is deeply concerned by the disproportionate sentence against the prominent human rights defender Liu Xiaobo," it said in a statement.
"The verdict against Mr Liu gives rise to concern with respect to freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial in China," the statement added.
Judges convicted Liu, 53, of "inciting subversion of state power" after he co-authored a pamphlet last year that called for human rights protection and the reform of China's one-party communist system.
His 11-year jail sentence was handed down on Christmas Day, drawing stinging criticism from rights groups and free press campaigners.
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