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Fifth Anniversary of 709 Crackdown: Updated Chart of Persecution of Lawyers and Legal and Rights Advocates

July 9, 2020

Five years ago, in July 2015, the Chinese authorities rounded up some 300 lawyers, legal advocates, and other rights activists in a campaign aimed at strangling rights defense work in China, including within the legal system. In what has come to be known as the 709 Crackdown, many were charged with and convicted of “subversion of state power” and “inciting subversion of state power.” Among those arrested on suspicion of “subversion of state power” was a young lawyer’s assistant, Zhao Wei, age 24. Some of those convicted are still serving their prison sentences. The lengthiest sentence went to a rights activist, Wu Gan, who is looking at an additional five years of deprivation of political rights after he completes his eight-year sentence in 2023.

In the case of lawyer Wang Quanzhang, the authorities even refused to provide the legally required notice to his family, who endured nearly three years not knowing whether he was dead or alive. Lawyer Li Chunfu was taken into custody as he was trying to search for his brother, Li Heping, who had been among the first lawyers picked up in the crackdown. In detention, Li Chunfu was subjected, like many others, to forced medications, and was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was released. Others reported various other forms of physical and psychological abuse as well as torture. And still others were detained for as long as a year and a half while ever being charged, then were released “on bail pending trial.”

HRIC’s updated 709 case chart provides information on key cases of individuals detained, imprisoned, and/or forcibly disappeared in the 709 Crackdown and their current status. The chart highlights the ongoing impunity of the Chinese authorities in violating the rights of rights defense professionals and activists, the right of an individual to freedom of from torture, the independence of judges and lawyers, and the fundamental principle of upholding the rule of law.

As mainland Chinese authorities have just imposed a national security law on Hong Kong, the implications of how they have routinely violated the People’s Republic of China’s own Criminal Procedure Law as well as international legal standards are of graver concern than ever before.

HRIC hopes that this updated 709 case chart will serve as a resource for the international community to take concrete action to support one of the key pillars of a rule of law—an independent legal profession that is not taken hostage by the Party-state.

The fifth anniversary of the 709 crackdown is a reminder of the dangers of ignoring the ongoing human rights violations in mainland China, and an occasion for an urgent call to the international community to closely monitor and respond to the developments on the mainland and in Hong Kong.


Excerpt from

Fifth Anniversary of 709 Crackdown: Updated Chart of Persecution of Lawyers and Legal and Rights Advocates

The 709 Crackdown affected some 300 lawyers and legal and rights advocates. Below is a chart that summarizes the charges against them, their sentences, and their status as of July 2020. (The order of the case listing in the chart is based on the severity of the charge and length of time in custody.)

(A)  Those Convicted

Name
Occupation

Detention, Charge, and Sentence

Status

“Subversion of State Power”


Hu Shigen

(胡石根)
Democracy and religious freedom activist

Taken away on July 10, 2015 and criminally detained on the July 11. Convicted of “subversion of state power” and sentenced to seven and a half years of imprisonment and five years of post-release deprivation of political rights. Source.

Serving his sentence as of July 2020. Suffering from heart disease, Hu has been denied medical parole multiple times. On August 6, 2019, Gary Bauer, head of U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, called for his immediate, unconditional release. Source. Source.


Zhou Shifeng
(
周世鋒)

Lawyer and law firm director

Portrayed in official media a “die-hard” (sike)lawyer.

Taken away on July 10, 2015. Convicted of “subversion of state power” and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and five years of post-release deprivation of political rights. Source. Source.

The Beijing Justice Bureau revoked his lawyer's license in January 2018, and, two months later, revoked the license of his law firm, the Beijing Fengrui Law Firm.

Serving his sentence as of July 2020. Source.


Wang Quanzhang
(
王全璋)
Human rights lawyer

Taken away on July 9, 2015. Convicted of “subversion of state power” and sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment and five years of post-release deprivation of political rights. Source.

Through continuous public advocacy, his wife, Li Wenzu, raised international attention to his case.

Released on April 5, 2020 but was sent to his hometown of Jinan for COVID-19 quarantine. Was finally allowed to return to Beijing on April 27 to reunite with his wife and children. Source.


Li Heping
(
李和平)

Human rights lawyer

Taken away on July 10, 2015, and later convicted of “subversion of state power” and sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for four years, and four years of post-release deprivation of political rights. Source.

Sentence completed on May 9, 2017.

His wife, Wang Qiaoling, had continued to call for international attention to his. She also helped other 709 family members defend their rights, in an informal “709 Family Resistance” alliance. Source.


Zhai Yanmin
(
翟岩民)
Law firm employee

Detained on suspicion of “gathering crowds to disturb social order.” Convicted of “subversion of state power” and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, suspended for four years, and four years of post-release deprivation of political rights. Source.

Sentence completed. Source.


Gou Hongguo
(
勾洪国)
Rights activist

Taken away on July 10, 2015. Placed under residential surveillance in a designated location (RSDL) on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” on July 11. Convicted of "subversion of state power" and sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for three years, and deprivation of political rights for years. Source. Source.

Permitted to undergo gallbladder removal surgery in Beijing in June 2017. Completed his sentence. Source.

Click to see full chart.

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