A Chinese artist known for his provocative and irreverent sculptures of Mao Zedong is facing trial on suspicion of slandering the country¡¯s heroes in a case underlining how little criticism is allowed under China¡¯s leader, Xi Jinping.
The trial of Gao Zhen, 69, was set to begin Monday at the Sanhe City People¡¯s Court in Hebei province, according to his wife. Gao, who has been in detention for more than a year and a half, faces up to three years in prison if convicted. The trial will not be open to the public, a measure that under Chinese law is largely reserved for cases that touch on national security.
¡°Secret trials are usually a bad sign,¡± his brother, Gao Qiang, said. ¡°The authorities may have already decided for the court what the outcome should be, and the trial is simply a politicized legal process, devoid of any fairness.¡±
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