Beijing, Aug. 26 -- China has sentenced artist Gao Zhen to three years in prison for allegedly "slandering China's heroes and martyrs", prompting Amnesty International to accuse Chinese authorities of using broad and politically motivated laws to suppress independent artistic expression.

According to an article published by Amnesty International, the Sanhe City People's Court in Hebei Province sentenced the 70-year-old artist on August 25. Gao Zhen, a US permanent resident, was detained in August 2024 on suspicion of "infringing upon the reputation and honour of heroes and martyrs". The charges relate to artworks created more than a decade ago that authorities alleged insulted revolutionary figures.

Gao Zhen has decided to appeal the co...