China: Australian writer sentenced to death
On February 5, a Chinese court sentenced Australian blogger, academic, and pro-democracy activist Dr Yang Hengjun to a suspended death sentence, almost half a decade after his 2019 arrest. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), condemn the sentence and urge authorities to advocate for Yang’s immediate release.
Yang Hengjun (L) was sentenced to death on February 5, following nearly five years in detention. Credit: X
Dr Yang’s sentence was confirmed by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on February 5, with Australian officials “appalled” by the outcome and vowing to communicate their response to China’s ambassador in Australia in “the strongest possible terms”. Yang’s ‘suspended’ death sentence will grant the blogger a two-year reprieve from execution, after which he may be sentenced to life in prison, or be subject to a reapplied death sentence. Dr Yang’s lawyers have until February 15 to appeal the decision.
Dr Yang was first arrested in January 2019, when security personnel detained the blogger on arrival at Guangzhou airport via New York. He was officially charged with espionage in October 2020, a month after first gaining access to a lawyer since his arrest. Yang was tried in May 2021 in a closed-door trial, with Australian diplomats denied access to the trial, allegedly due to national security concerns and COVID-19 restrictions.
Yang has suffered severe illness since his arrest, with the author expressing fears he may die in custody following the development of gout, high blood pressure, impaired vision, and a large cyst on one of his kidneys. The decision has been condemned by freedom of expression bodies, Pen International and Amnesty International, among others, who have called on Chinese authorities to revoke the charges and ensure Yang’s immediate release.
The author’s sentencing comes approximately four months after the return of jailed Australian journalist Cheng Lei to Australia. Lei, held for over three years of pre-trial detention, was released following advocacy from Australian authorities, press freedom advocates, and the global media community.
MEAA said: “MEAA is appalled at the suspended death sentence handed down to Australian citizen and blogger Yang Hengjun by a Chinese court on Monday. The sentence, which follows five years of detention on a charge of espionage, follows a deeply flawed judicial process. Given Yang is in poor health, even if he avoids a death sentence, he is likely to die in jail. MEAA echoes the concerns of PEN International and urges the government to continue diplomatic efforts to have Yang released.”
The IFJ said: “Yang Hengjun’s sentencing is egregious, and representative of the worst human rights abuses committed by Chinese authorities towards journalists and media workers. The international community, including the Australian government, must work to ensure Yang’s immediate release and the withdrawal of all charges.”
