According to state-run news agency Xinhua, a document released by China‘s Supreme People‘s Court on Thursday stated that evidence and testimony obtained through torture and illegal methods such as forcing the accused to suffer extreme temperatures, hunger and fatigue — must be ruled out by judges.(..)
Human rights groups cautioned that the announcement by the Supreme People‘s Court, while an encouraging step, should not pass as real reform yet. Nicholas Bequelin of Human Rights Watch said that the document demonstrated that there were people inside the system pushing for progress, and that alone was significant.