China jails prominent rights activist for four years

A Chinese court sentenced prominent legal activist Xu Zhiyong to four years in prison on Sunday, finding him guilty of “gathering a crowd to disrupt public order,” Financial Times reported. The conviction, which was condemned by human rights groups, concluded an investigation of at least nine months’ duration. Since December, at least six people affiliated with Xu’s New Citizens’ Movement have been prosecuted, with another four trials expected next week. Xu, who called on China’s leaders to introduce rules to require government officials to disclose their assets, had a one-day trial last Wednesday.