China

Poets, Peaceniks and Protesters: Meet China’s Leading Dissidents

As Xi Jinping, the man widely touted to be China's next President, embarks on a trip to the U.S., Beijing's desire for political stability remains paramount. The past year has seen numerous crackdowns on dissent and arrests of Chinese activists. Last week, Zhu Yufu, a poet, was sentenced to seven years for "inciting subversion to state power." Meet Zhu and some of the other artists, activists and lawyers caught up in China's latest crackdown.

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Zhu Yufu

By Feb. 10, 2012

Occupation: Poet
Status: Sentenced to seven years

Zhu was charged with “inciting subversion of state power” and sentenced to seven years. Authorities maintain that his 2011 poem, “It’s Time,” constituted a call for a Jasmine Revolution-style revolt.  The 59-year-old already spent seven years in jail for helping to found the China Democracy Party and served another stint in confinement from 2007-09 after an alleged altercation with a police officer.

—by Joe Jackson

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