Internet activist sentenced to seven years in prison in China

China has sentenced an Internet activist to seven years in prison for publishing articles critical of the Chinese government.

State media has confirmed the sentence of Tao Haidong, 45, who human rights groups describe as the latest victim of an ongoing crackdown on free expression on the web.

The US-based Human Rights in China had reported that Tao was missing for several months, before it was learned he was tried in a Urumqi court in the western Xinjiang region on January 8 over opinions posted online.

The People's Court Daily says Tao was convicted of inciting to subvert state power, in three articles which slandered the Chinese Communist Party and leaders from 1981 to 2001.

Amnesty International says at least 33 people have been detained or imprisoned in China for using the Internet to express views or share information.