Liu Xiaobo, Prisoner of Conscience

On December 23, 2009, the People's Republic of China condemned the poet Liu Xiaobo for the crime of "inciting subversion of state power."  The trial lasted less than three hours, and the defense was not permitted to present evidence. Two days later, on December 25, Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in prison and two years' deprivation of political rights.

Mr. Liu's alleged crime was the co-authoring of Charter 08, which, inter alia, advocates free speech and the end of single party rule.

The...