Minister of State for Human Rights Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon said:
We are deeply concerned by the sentencing of human rights activist and journalist Huang Qi to 12 years in prison.
In 2018 independent experts on the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Mr Huang's detention contravened the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and urged the Chinese authorities to release him immediately.
Mr Huang's case and sentencing raises strong concerns about media freedom, due process and the rule of law in China. We urge the authorities to uphold the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by China's constitution and international law.
We also urge the authorities to ensure Mr Huang, who is understood to be seriously ill, receives adequate medical care and to facilitate meetings between Mr Huang and his family and legal counsel as soon as possible.
