Source: Phayul
Tibetan activist A-nya Sengdra's lawyer, Lin Qilei, faced a hostile reception at the Sixth Circuit Court of the Supreme People's Court in Xi'an on July 10. Lin had visited the court to inquire about the progress of Sengdra's appeal against his politically motivated imprisonment. This incident exposes the difficulties within China's legal system and the lack of transparency in handling human rights cases, particularly those involving Tibetans.
Sengdra, a prominent activist in Tibet, was arrested on September 4, 2018, and subjected to 48 days of incommunicado detention without access to legal representation. During this time, he reportedly suffered physical abuse. After 14 months of pre-trial detention, he was sentenced to seven years in prison on December 6, 2019, on charges of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" and "disturbing public order."
Lin Qilei, representing Sengdra, pursued appeals against the verdict but faced rejections from the Intermediate People's Court of Golok Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and the Higher People's Court of Qinghai Province. Seeking justice, Sengdra decided to bring his case to the Chinese Supreme Court, refusing to accept a verdict he deemed a suppression of his activism.
Upon visiting the Sixth Circuit Court, Lin encountered uncooperative staff who refused to provide a contact number for future inquiries. Lin shared his experience on Twitter, expressing frustration with the lack of assistance. The Chinese authorities' actions were condemned by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), labeling them as unlawful and obstructive. TCHRD called for the immediate release of Sengdra and accountability for officials involved in corruption.
The treatment faced by A-nya Sengdra and his lawyer sheds light on the human rights challenges and lack of transparency in China's legal system. International attention is now focused on this incident, with calls for justice and the immediate release of Sengdra and his associates from various human rights organizations.
Edited and collated by Team TRC