A Christian human rights lawyer and five pro-Democracy activists received lengthy prison sentences in Vietnam for alleged activities against the state.
The six defendants were sentenced to serve between seven and 15 years in jail for "carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the government."
UCA News reported that defendant Pham Van Troi was sentenced to nine years, while Le Thu Ha was sentenced to seven years.
Activist Nguyen Bac Truyen was sentenced to 11 years while journalist Truong Minh Duc and Pastor Nguyen Trun Ton each received 12 year prison sentences. The longest jail term was handed down to Nguyen Van Dai, who received 15 years. The defendants will also be put under house arrest ranging from one to five years, after they complete their prison sentences.
The BBC noted that the initial charge against the six defendants was producing anti-state propaganda, but was later changed to attempts to overthrow the state.
Dai and his assistant Ha were arrested in December 2015, while the other defendants were arrested last July.
The verdict has been denounced by Dai's wife, Vu Minh Khanh, who contended that her husband defended himself "vigorously" during the trial.
"Their defence in court show they were patriotic and peaceful. If the trial had lasted for another day, I think the prosecutors would be unable to keep on debating," Khanh said, according to BBC.
She went on to say that the court "had no evidence but they still tried to charge the defendants with crimes."
"We were outraged. We the relatives cried after the trial ended and shouted it was an unfair trial," she added.
A report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said Dai was preparing to meet with European Union representatives when he was arrested in 2015. At the time, the EU representatives were in the city for the annual EU-Vietnam human rights dialogue.
According to CSW, Dai provided legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses, including religious minorities, in Vietnam. The Christian lawyer previously served a four year prison sentence and was reportedly attacked and harassed by the authorities due to his work.
CSW contended that the allegations against the six activists are an "attempt to silence those calling for a just and fair society, and these unjust and lengthy sentences are a grim reflection of the direction the Vietnamese government is taking and the deteriorating human rights situation in the country."
"We stand with their family members and supporters in calling for their unconditional release," the organization went on to say.
