CNHRA EVENT RECORD · CNHRA-E-268838
Wei Jingsheng: Second Detention, Fourteen-Year Sentence and Departure for the US
Date
1994
Location
Beijing; departure for the United States in 1997
Event Type
Detention · Trial · Sentencing · Release
Human Rights Issues
Freedom of Expression · Right to a Fair Trial
Record ID
CNHRA-E-268838
Summary
Description
Following his 1993 release, Wei resumed public discussion and writing before being detained on April 1, 1994. Beijing No. 1 Intermediate Court imposed fourteen years and three years’ deprivation of political rights on December 13, 1995.[3][2]
Amnesty’s contemporaneous statement records his not-guilty plea and criticizes defense preparation and hearing access. He received the Sakharov Prize in prison in 1996. When he was released to the United States in 1997, HRW criticized the apparent condition of exile.[2][1][3]
Developments
Detained again
After resuming meetings and writing following his 1993 release, Wei is taken into custody again on April 1, 1994.[3]
Second conviction: fourteen years
Amnesty’s contemporaneous statement records a fourteen-year sentence and three years’ deprivation of political rights at Beijing No. 1 Intermediate Court. Wei pleaded not guilty; Amnesty criticized inadequate preparation time and the exclusion of foreign observers.[2]
Receives the Sakharov Prize in prison
The European Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought while he remains imprisoned.[1]
Travels to the United States on medical parole
Wei traveled to Detroit after release on medical parole. Amnesty’s statement the next day records the overseas-treatment conditions attached to his release.[4]
Related People
Organizations
No organizations have been added.
Documents
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-360711European Parliament
Evidence location: Laureate biography: 1978 manifesto, Exploration, prison terms, 1996 award and 1997 exile.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-226347Amnesty International
Evidence location: Pages 1–2: sentence, supplementary political-rights deprivation, hearing and defense preparation.
- [3]
CNHRA-S-042847Human Rights Watch
Evidence location: Opening release announcement and background paragraphs on Democracy Wall, the 1979 sentence, 1993 release, 1994 detention and 1995 sentence.
- [4]
CNHRA-S-487054Amnesty International
Evidence location: ASA 17/44/97, page 1, opening paragraphs and background: medical parole and travel to Detroit the previous day; September 1993 parole.