![\"Pu](\"http:\/\/www.chinesepen.org\/english\/files\/2015\/12\/Pu-Zhiqiang0.jpg\")
<\/a>pu zhiqiangPu Zhiqiang. Photo: rosechina.net.<\/p><\/div>\n
Pu, 50, was sentenced to three years in prison with a three-year suspension on Tuesday over seven posts he made\u00a0on microblogging platform Weibo between 2012 and 2014.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Mao Xinyu, Mao Zedong\u2019s grandson. Photo: xilu.com.<\/p><\/div>\n
In one of them, the lawyer\u00a0criticised former\u00a0leader Mao Zedong<\/span>\u2018s grandson Mao Xinyu, who is a member of the national political consultative body the CPPCC.<\/p>\n Professor He said Pu\u2019s comments, although harsh, were merely \u201cnormal criticism\u201d of a public figure. If Mao felt like his reputation was harmed, he could sue Pu for defamation, He said. Pu\u2019s comments had nothing to do with \u201cpicking quarrels and provoking troubles,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The professor compared Pu\u2019s trial\u00a0with cases of \u201cmiscarriage of justice\u201d during the Cultural Revolution. He said he\u00a0had been \u201coverly confident\u201d that free speech trials\u00a0would not happen again after the 1966-1976 mass movement was redressed.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, artist Ai Weiwei<\/span> has penned an op-ed for The New York Times<\/span> to support Pu, who was his defence lawyer when he was charged with tax evasion. Ai said\u00a0authorities used the same tactic against Pu as they did with him and attempted to charge the lawyer with economic crimes.<\/p>\n Pu was detained for a year and a half before his trial while prosectors went through his law firm\u2019s financial records, hoping to establish a case for economic crimes, Ai said.<\/p>\n After failing to do so, they then turned\u00a0to Pu\u2019s online speech.\u00a0Professor He also echoed this point in his commentary. The fact that authorities could not charge him for anything else but a few words showed Pu was an outstanding legal worker, He wrote.<\/p>\n However, state media insisted\u00a0the sentence was just. Xinhua published an op-ed on Wednesday calling Pu a \u201ccriminal.\u201d The op-ed blasts Pu\u2019s supporters for having their own agenda.<\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/www.hongkongfp.com\/2015\/12\/24\/where-is-legal-sectors-conscience-and-courage-asks-beijing-law-professor-after-pu-trial\/<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Peking University law professor He Weifa … Continue reading <\/h3>\n