Beijing, April 7 (IANS) The Chinese government on Tuesday ignored appeals made by several countries to release five female activists who were arrested a month ago for trying to distribute stickers and pamphlets against sexual harassment on public transportation, Efe news agency reported.
When asked about the petitions for the release of the women submitted by the European Union (EU) and countries such as the US, China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: “No one has the right to ask China to release relevant persons, so we hope that relevant people will stop interfering in China’s judicial sovereignty in such a manner.”
Addressing reporters on Tuesday, the spokeswoman also said that the detainees would be tried in accordance with the country’s laws.
The EU External Action Service has repeatedly called for the immediate release of the five women, considering the arrests to be a violation of their rights.
The women were arrested just before International Women’s Day, which was on March 8, for planning an anti-sexual harassment campaign by way of posting stickers and distributing pamphlets on public transportation in several Chinese cities, including Beijing.