Beijing: The European Union called for the immediate release of Chinese activist Hu Jia, who was jailed earlier today for three and a half years on charges of subversion.

"We said very clearly before the trial that he should not have been detained in the first place and that he should be released and this remains our position," said William Fingleton, the European Union spokesman in Beijing. Hu, 34, was sentenced at a court in Beijing after he was found guilty of "incitement to subvert state power" following a one-day trial last month.

"We believe that the charges of subversion against peaceful expression of opinion are not in line with the (UN) Convention on Civil and Political Rights which the Chinese government has committed to respect," said Fingleton. In a statement, the United States said it believed the jailing of Hu was wrong and called on China to improve its human rights record.

"We are dismayed by this verdict," US embassy spokeswoman Susan Stevenson told AFP. "In this Olympic year, we urge China to seize the opportunity to put its best face forward and take steps to improve its record on human rights and religious freedom."

Hu's lawyer Li Fangping said the subversion charge was related to Hu posting information on the Internet and speaking with foreign reporters. "The evidence was publishing articles in and outside of China and accepting interviews with the foreign press," Li told reporters outside the court. He said he would advise his client to appeal the sentence.

Hu had for many years been one of China's most active human rights campaigners, and the United States and the European Union had called for his release following his detention on December 27 last year.

Source : PTI