China began the trial of rights lawyer Xie Yang for “subversion of state power” and “disrupting court order” on Monday, a city court said on social media, a case that has drawn international concern amid claims Xie was tortured in jail.
President Xi Jinping has overseen a sweeping crackdown on civil society during his four years in power, charging or detaining dozens of rights lawyers and activists who authorities say are a threat to national security and social stability.
The Changsha Intermediate People’s Court in central China’s Hunan province released transcripts of the first hearing of Xie’s case on Weibo, China’s equivalent of Twitter, on Monday morning.
According to the transcripts, Xie confirmed his identity, the date he had received the charges against him, that he understood the charges, and that he would not apply to challenge the impartiality of the judge.
The court also released a short video that showed Xie saying he had not been mistreated while in custody.
It also said 40 people, including foreign and domestic journalists, attended the hearing, which it said would be an “open” trial.
Reuters could not verify independently the accuracy of the transcripts or photos released on Weibo.
