China - Appeal court trims Gao Yu's jail term, RSF reiterates call for release

Gao Yu was transferred today from prison to her home as a result of a decision by the court that she should temporarily serve her sentence under house arrest for health reasons. Reporters Without Borders continues to demand her unconditional release.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reiterated its call for journalist Gao Yu’s immediate release after a Beijing people’s high court today reduced her sentence on appeal from seven to five years in prison. Gao did none of the things she is alleged to have done.

Aged 71 and a recipient of UNESCO’s Guillermo Cano prize, Gao Yu has been detained since 24 April 2014. She was convicted seven months ago on a charge of divulging state secrets.

Her family and lawyers, and many international organizations including RSF, have repeatedly drawn international public opinion’s attention to the decline in her state of health in recent months.

“Gao Yu is innocent so we cannot be satisfied with a reduced jail term,” said Benjamin Ismaïl, the head of the RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk. “Gao must be freed outright. The decline in her state of health alone is grounds for releasing her. Keeping her in detention would mean letting her die in prison for a crime she did not commit.”

Ever since Xi Jinping became president, China has seen an unprecedented crackdown on those who defend fundamental rights and freedoms, especially freedom of information.

China is ranked 176th out of 180 countries in the 2015 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.