The sentencing of two prominent human rights lawyers by a Chinese court has been condemned by the United Nations, with the organisation’s human rights chief expressing deep concern over the lengthy jail terms. On Monday, Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi were sentenced to 14 years and 12 years in prison, respectively, which is being perceived as Beijing’s most recent effort to suppress criticism and calls for improved civil liberties in the country.

The two individuals were vocal about their criticisms of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President Xi Jinping. The Human Rights chief, Volker Turk, expressed his apprehension regarding the sentencing of Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong, who are well-known advocates of human rights in China. According to him, their lengthy imprisonment sentences deviate from the established norms of international human rights law. The statement was released by Volker Turk’s office.

The law on human rights mandates that individuals should face prosecution or any form of punishment for expressing their dissent towards government policies. In addition, it entails the observance of impartial trials and due process rights and thorough inquiries into any claims of mistreatment. 

Xu and Ding were found guilty of “subversion of state power” and each sentenced to 14 and 12 years in prison, respectively, by a court in Shandong province in eastern China on Monday. However, it should be noted that courts in China are not autonomous and are ultimately accountable to the ruling Communist Party of China. 

The trials of Xu and Ding were not open to the public and were plagued with procedural irregularities and claims of mistreatment, according to a statement by Human Rights Watch, a US-based organisation focused on protecting human rights. Amnesty International also called the sentencing a blatant violation of their rights to freedom of expression.