<i>IAS calls for immediate release of Hu Jia</i>

The International AIDS Society (IAS) expressed grave concern over the sentencing of Hu Jia – a prominent Chinese human rights activist – on charges of subversion, and called for Mr Jia's immediate and unconditional release — says a press release. IAS President, Pedro Cahn, referred to Mr Jia's sentence as a failure of justice.
"Hu Jia is highly respected as a human rights activist all over the world. He has dedicated his life to fighting against injustice in China, at great personal risk. His continued harassment by authorities, arrest and subsequent sentencing is a violation of his human rights, and an insult by the Chinese authorities to the global human rights movement," said Dr Cahn. "We are also concerned for Hu's health. He needs daily medication for his hepatitis infection and is in the early stages of sclerosis of the liver."
Hu is most widely known as an advocate for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS in China, and has been honoured with a number of international awards for his efforts. His work on HIV/AIDS is widely credited within China amongst government authorities and civil society groups.
According to available information, Hu's conviction and sentencing are not in relation to his HIV/AIDS work. "This is the time for China to be improving its image. The eyes of the world are on Beijing ahead of the Olympic Games, and we urge the Chinese government to seize this opportunity to improve its record on human rights, and release Hu Jia immediately," said Dr Cahn.
Hu Jia was sentenced by the Beijing First Intermediate People's Court to three and half years imprisonment, with one year deprivation of political rights, for subverting the state.
The verdict said Hu, an unemployed father aged 34 and the holder of a college degree, libeled the Chinese political and social systems, and instigated subversion of the state, which is a crime under Chinese law.
Considering Hu's confession of crime and acceptance of punishment, the court said it had decided the ruling with leniency and announced a less harsh prison sentence.
The court heard that from August 2006 to October 2007, Hu published articles on overseas-run websites, made comments in interviews with foreign media, and repeatedly instigated other people to subvert the state's political power and socialist system.
The court said the verdict was based on Article 105, 56 and 55 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China.
The IAS is the world's leading independent association of HIV professionals, with more than 10,000 members from 172 countries. The IAS is a non-profit organisation founded in 1988, and acts as an independent voice in the global response to AIDS on behalf of its members. The Society is the custodian of the International AIDS Conferences, the paramount gathering of all disciplines in HIV/AIDS, held every two years, and organises the IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and prevention.