The United States on Friday condemned the “unjust imprisonment” of prominent Chinese human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife Xu Yan, who were sentenced to three years and one year and nine months, respectively, by a Chinese court this week.

Yu, 56, and Xu were imprisoned on charges of “inciting subversion of state power” by the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court on Tuesday, according to Chinese human rights website Weiquanwang, citing sources. The pair’s relatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

“These sentences demonstrate the PRC’s continuing efforts to silence those who speak out for human rights and the rule of law,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, referring to the People’s Republic of China.

The statement added that foreign diplomats including from the U.S. mission had been barred from attending their trial. The European Union, as well as the foreign ministries of France and Germany, also released statements this week calling for their release.

Source: Reuters