China’s popular female journalist sentenced to prison

Last Updated on June 15, 2024 9:50 am

A court of the country has sentenced a female journalist popular for the “Me-To” movement in China to five years in prison. At the same time, her male partner was sentenced to 3 and a half years in prison. The Chinese authorities said that they were sentenced for the crime of treason.

Those sentenced are Sophia Huang Xuenqin and labor rights activist Wang Jianbing. Authorities said they were charged with “incitement against state power,” though not specifically.

Anadolu Agency reported this information on Friday.

According to reports, the female journalist, identified as Sophia Huang Zhuenqin, was convicted and sentenced by the Guangzhou Intermediate Court in southern Guangdong province on Friday. He was sentenced after 1000 days of detention.

On the other hand, Wang Jianbing, a labor rights activist who was on trial with Huang, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Huang, 36, has been one of the leading voices of the Me-too movement in China. He published sensational stories about victims of sexual assault. He was also vocal about facing misogyny and sexual harassment in the office.

In September 2021, Huang Xueqing and Wang Jianbing were detained from Guangzhou while they were on their way to study in the UK.

Huang first started the #MeToo movement at one of China’s most prestigious universities in Beijing. He also created a social media platform to report sexual harassment.

Authorities also detained him during anti-government protests in Hong Kong in 2019. At that time he was accused of ‘inciting trouble’.

Huang has been writing about social issues on his personal blog since 2018. He previously worked as an investigative reporter for Chinese-language outlets Xinquaibao and Southern Metropolis Weekly.

His supporters say he was arrested for organizing regular meetings and forums with youth to discuss social issues.

Reporters Without Borders, an advocacy group of global journalists, has demanded the immediate release of Huang Jueqing and Wang Jianbing. The group said there was a heavy security presence at the court where they were sentenced on Friday and that their members faced massive obstacles.

Meanwhile, journalist Huang Xueqin said that he will appeal against this verdict.