China – Statement by France and Germany – Situation of Huang Qi (31 July 2019)

France and Germany are concerned by the harsh 12-year prison sentence handed down against the Chinese journalist Huang Qi by the Mianyang Immediate People’s Court on July 29.

Huang Qi was arrested and convicted solely for carrying out his professional activities as a journalist and defender of the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Chinese Constitution and enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In light of his current state of health, we call on the Chinese authorities to release him immediately for humanitarian reasons and to end the arbitrary police measures targeting his family, including his 85-year-old mother who is currently under house arrest.