five years in a chinese prison

Prodemocracy activist and Harvard scholar Yang Jianli was released last week after five years in a Chinese prison on charges of illegally entering the country and spying: Harvard scholar freed from Chinese prison. His case had become a crusade, prompting appeals from Congress, the State Department, and international human rights groups for his release. In May 2003, a United Nations committee ruled that Yang was being held in violation of international law. Chinese authorities, however, rejected any and all pleas, saying Yang's five-year sentence was in keeping with Chinese law. He was released five years to the day of his arrest.