Chinese Artist Gao Zhen Sentenced to Three Years for Slandering Heroes and Martyrs

Prominent Chinese artist Gao Zhen, recognized for his provocative sculptures of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, has been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of slandering China's 'heroes and martyrs.' According to his wife and human rights groups, the sentencing comes after Gao spent two years in detention. He was originally detained while visiting China alongside his family. The legal action against Gao has provoked international condemnation. The backlash centers on the timing of the charges, as the artworks at the heart of the prosecution were created more than a decade before China enacted the law under which he was charged.