Riots in Chinese activist lawsuit

- Under great international interest is Monday began the trial of well-known Chinese human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang. He must avoid, because he has been critical of the regime in his country. There were riots when people were not allowed into the courtroom.

Including in messaging Weibo, China's version of Twitter, Pu has criticized the Communist Party and the grandson of Mao and the policy on Muslim Uighurs. The activist has been detained over the past nineteen months. And that is probably not, because Pu hangs eight years in prison over the head, partly due to the " inciting ethnic divisions ".

At the trial in Beijing are numerous foreign journalists, diplomats, from The Netherlands, the US and Britain, and activists come down. Agents to prevent a group of about ten diplomats access to the court. The courtroom was " full " are.

Human rights groups are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Pu. " His case is teeming with irregularities, abuse of his procedural rights and human rights violations. " Activists see the prosecution attempted to intimidate other lawyers in China.

Pu is considered one of the most renowned lawyers in China. He has previously defended lawsuits activists who stood up for civil rights, but now he's so himself in the dock.

Pu Zhiqiang (Archive photo : Reuters