Women’s Rights Activists Detained 2015: A Chronology |
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April 26 |
[NEW] Wu Rongrong recounts police threats during interrogation in detention: “before they started taking notes and video recording, they would howl at me: ‘we’ll tie you up, throw you in a cell with men, and let them gang rape you; also, your son is only four, there’ll be trouble ahead with school and work.’” Source.
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April 24 |
Wu Rong Rong is summonsed by Beijing police for more than 8 hours of continuous interrogation. The police refused to show any legal documents. The interrogation is scheduled to continue tomorrow, April 25. Wu says in a message to close friends: my spirit is nearly broken, if you don’t see me tomorrow, I may have died. Source.
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April 22 |
Li Tingting and Wu Rongrong plan to file formal complaint over the mistreatment at Haidian District Detention Center, including physical attacks and humiliation Li suffered. Source.
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April 21 |
Wei Tingting speaks to Sky News about her time in detention and states: "I can say it objectively: the officers used some tactics during interrogations in the hope that you will confess or admit to the crimes… They use some methods to trick you; to make you speak more. I don't want to talk more details about it. They do have their ways to obtain information they want to get." Source
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April 20 |
Wang Man states in open letter of thanks that she has been made strong by detention, will continue to fight for the justice the five women deserve, and hope to have sustained support from friends. Source.
Zheng Churan (Datu), in thank-you letter to the public, recounts how fragile and weak she felt in her isolation during detention, and that she cried each day. She says to her supporters: “You are stronger and more courageous than I am. You have turned me back into a person who, although still crying, is beginning to calm down.” (Source)
Li Tingting (Maizi), in a thank-you letter to the public, recounts being taken away on March 6 for the planned “International Women’s Day: ‘Stick It Around’” project against sexual harassment on public transportation for March 7 and detained 37 days. She says she was interrogated 49 times in 27 days, but she never pleaded guilty. “There are too, too many things I am thankful for. . . . The revolution has not succeeded yet; comrades please continue to strive.” (Source)
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April 19 |
Li Tingting releases a written statement, through her girlfriend, known by her English name, Teresa, and lawyer, Wang Yu, saying that despite having been detained for 37 days: "What I have done does not provoke trouble, but is mild advocacy that does not amount to any crime. . . . I demand police dismiss the case immediately, remove coercive restrictions on me and return innocence to me." SOURCE
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April 18 |
Wei Tingting states in open letter of thanks that during detention, she was interrogated more than 30 times, as many as three times a day. And that she believes her release was inextricably linked to domestic and international support. Source.
Wu Rongrong, in a thank-you letter to the public, states that during her 37 days in detention— and even through the most difficult days when she was forced to sleep on the floor and be without her medication—she knew she must look after herself and become stronger. While in detention, she hoped that when she got out, she would witness the scenes of the voice and strength of women’s rights being heard, seen, and felt by the people. She thanks everyone on the outside for raising their voices and struggling tirelessly, and says she “looks forward to chatting freely, over drinks, when we get together.” (Source)
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April 15 |
Since being released from detention, Li Tingting has been closely monitored: police drive-by her home every fifteen minutes, and her mobile phone is not functioning normally. A close friend, Xiao La, attempted to visit Li TIngting and has not been heard from since. SOURCE. |
April 13
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All five women are “released upon guarantee pending further investigation” (取保候审). Source. See HRIC law note on conditions of their release.
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April 9
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Wei Tingting’s lawyer Wang Qiushi reports that Wei’s charge has been changed to “gathering crowds to disrupt order in public places.”
Wu Rongrong's lawyer Liang Xiaojun also confirms that the five women are facing the charge and that he had not been informed till the end of April 8.
Source: (CHT, CHS)
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April 8 |
Lawyer Wang Qiushi provides updates in two weibo posts: Lawyer Liang Xiaojun is told by the Haidian District Procuratorate that it has not received the request for the approval of the five women’s arrests, or relevant case materials supporting the request. Wang himself is told the same by the Beijing Municipal People’s Procuratorate Branch No. 1. Wang says that the women’s detention has exceeded the maximum 30-days allowed without formal arrest, stipulated by the Criminal Procedure Law, and that either both procuratorates are lying or the Beijing public security [departments] have seriously violated the law with the prolonged detention of the five women. Wang indicates he will file a formal complaint tomorrow. Source (1, 2)
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April 7 |
According to a weibo post by Lawyer Yan Wenxin, Li Tingting says on April 7, during their third lawyer-client meeting, that she has been told by the pre-trial division that public security has forwarded all five cases to the procuratorate, which will decide whether to approve formal arrest; and that her interrogations have become less frequent than before, averaging two a day. Lawyer Yan also says in the weibo post that Li seems to be in good spirits and good health, except for frequent nasal inflammation. Source.
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April 6 |
Over the past two weeks, police from Beijing have been sent to multiple cities across the country to look for women’s rights activists who previously participated in the “Occupying Men’s Room” Campaign (2012), and other theatrical protests against domestic violence and sexual discrimination. Source.
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April 3
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Lawyer Liang Xiaojun meets with Wu Rongrong at the Public Security Hospital (medical facility at the Beijing No. 2 Detention Center), where she had been transferred on March 19. Wu says she is receiving daily IV medication for her liver condition, her health has improved, and she runs in place in her room for 20-30 minutes a day. She also says during this period, she has been questioned 4 times.
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April 2 |
Li Tingting’s lawyer Yan Xin goes to the Haidian District Detention Center for a meeting that he has arranged with his client, but is told that she is not available because she has been taken to the pre-trial section. Source.
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March 31
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Citizens and friends of the women mail a petition—originally circulated online on March 9 and signed by 1,100 people—to the Haidian District Public Security Bureau, Haidian District Detention Center in Beijing, Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate, and the All-China Women's Federation calling for the women’s release. Source.
The petition alleges that many of the police actions violated the law, and requests that authorities take the lead in carrying on the women’s efforts to stop sexual harassment.
Lawyer Wang Qiushi meets with Wei Tingting at the Haidian District Detention Center and reports: police officers closely monitored the meeting; Wei said she was very tired from the frequent interrogations, with many questions being asked repeatedly, and some even concerning training she participated in three-four years ago; Wei said the interrogating officer told her to admit her guilt as many of her activities, without official approval, were illegal. Source.
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March 28 |
Wu Rongrong’s (CH) lawyer Liang Xiaojun (梁小军) is told by officials at the Beijing Public Security Hospital (medical facility at the Beijing No. 2 Detention Center) that the meeting with his client that he had requested on March 23 is now scheduled for April 3. Source.
According to unconfirmed sources, Zheng Churan’s family has received her formal detention notice from the police. Source.
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March 25 |
Lawyer Yan Xin (燕薪), also known as Yan Wenxin (燕文薪) meets with Li Tingting and circulates message online. Excerpts: Li says she has been subjected to very frequent interrogation, two to three times daily, usually lasting until 11:00 p.m., and, once, 1:00 a.m. The chief “pre-trial” interrogator and a policeman frequently use foul language to insult her, and sometimes even open the cell door to blow smoke on her face. The interrogator has asked her about all of her women’s rights advocacy actions, including 3/8 Anti-Sexual Harassment, Occupy Men's Bathroom, Bloody Brides and Bald Girls, and asked her to admit her mistakes. Li refused and told the interrogator that all these are meaningful actions that oppose gender discrimination and advocate for gender equality, and they have been carried out in the form of performance art and are not crimes. . . . Li is in good spirits, calm and optimistic. She exercises every day, is in good condition. Read entire message: CH & EN
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March 24
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Li Tingting’s (Li Maizi) lawyer Yan Xin requests meeting with Li at the Haidian District Detention Center and is told that Li has been taken away by the pre-trial department since 8:00 a.m. Yan says this is the fourth consecutive day the detention center authorities have denied his request for a meeting with Li. Source: EN CH
An officer at the Haidian District Detention Center refuses to accept an application by Wang Man’s lawyer Zhao Xia (赵霞) for Wang’s release on bail pending trial, saying that the application must bear the official stamp of the defense lawyer’s law firm. Zhao points out that the Criminal Procedure Law clearly provides for the right of defense counsel to submit such an application and does not require the stamp of a law firm. Source.
Police authorities forcibly entered the offices of Beijing Yirenping Center in the early morning, conducted a search that lasted 4-5 hours, took away financial records and computers, and detained a staff member. Yirenping believes that the search is connected with its work with women's rights activists. Source.
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March 23 |
In a Twitter post, Wu Rongrong’s new lawyer Liang Xiaojun (梁小军) seeks a meeting with Wu at the Haidian Detention Center. Police say Liang will be notified after they examine the power-of-attorney and that Wu has been moved to the Public Security Hospital [No. 2 Detention Center]. Source.
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March 22 |
Wu Rongrong’s husband releases photos of her lab test results and the hospital discharge note from her 12-day hospitalization in February 2015 in connection with her liver condition and says: “Our son is turning four soon. Rongrong had specifically put aside her work trips so as to spend the day with our son. We both eagerly look forward to a return of our beloved Rongrong, and pray that she returns in good health condition.” Source: EN, CH.
Dr. Cai Haodong, chief physician of the Hepatology division at the Beijing Ditan Hospital, is cited as saying that Wu needs to take medications over the long-term, and stopping them may worsen her condition or even result in liver failure. Source: EN, CH.
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March 20 |
Lawyer Zhao Xia meets with Wang Man at the Public Security Hospital [Beijing No. 2 Detention Center]; Zhao says that Wang is suffering from a heart condition following long hours of repeated daily interrogations and: “Though her situation is in control and she is out of danger, it is no longer appropriate to detain Wang Man.” Source: EN, CH.
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March 19
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In message posted on Weibo, Wu Rongrong’s lawyer Wang Fei says he has met with her client twice and is very worried about her health; she looks sallow, with pain in her liver area, and blood in her phlegm in morning. Wang also says that public security “pre-trial” personnel says that Wu has been sent to “Public Security Hospital” [No. 2 Detention Center]. Source: Weibo. (Original post removed, a version available on Twitter @swye105)
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March 17 |
Lawyer Wang Qiushi meets with Wei Tingting: she is in good spirits but has no access to glasses though she is very nearsighted. Source: Weibo. (Original post removed, a version can be viewed here.)
Lawyer Hu Guiyun meets with Zheng Churan (Datu): she is in good health, but is denied access to glasses. Source.
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March 16 |
Lawyer Wang Fei meets with Wu Rongrong: her health is not good, she is made to sleep on the floor, and is denied medications or treatment. Source.
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March 12 |
Lawyer Yan Xin meets with Li Tingting (Li Maizi) and relays that Li’s condition is good. Maizi says in their meeting that the police who seized her from her home on March 6 did not show any official IDs, and the summons and search warrant they showed were blank, without even a name—a serious violation of the law. Source.
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March 11 |
According to Lawyer Jiang Tianyong (江天勇), Li Tingting (Li Mazi), Zheng Churan (Datu), Wu Rongrong, Wei Tingting, and Wang Man have been criminally detained at the Beijing Haidian District Detention Center on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking troubles” (寻衅滋事) and have legal representation. Source.
Wu Rongrong’s lawyer Wang Fei (王飞), Wei Tingting’s lawyer Wang Qiushi (王秋实), Zheng Churan’s (Datu) lawyer Hu Guiyun (胡贵云) submit requests at the Beijing Haidian District Detention Center to meet with their clients. They are told that a reply would be issued within 48 hours. Source.
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March 09
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Citizens and friends of the detained women circulate a petition online calling for their release. The petition also urges the authorities to take the lead in abiding by Chinese law, which protects women’s equality in all aspects of political, economic, cultural, social, and family life, defending women's rights to freedom of expression, and protecting women from sexual harassment. Source.
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March 07 |
4:30am, Beijing
Ai Ke (艾可) taken by police. She sends out weixin message after release: “4:30am taken away. Was watched while dressing and going to the bathroom. . . .Large group of police from precinct and municipal Public Security Bureau. Chat contents in mobile are all read, including [that with our] small group. I was asked to notify everyone that all activities on March 8 have been canceled. Returned home. Source.
2:00~2:30pm, Hangzhou
Wu Rongrong (武嵘嵘) taken from Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport by police to the Hangzhou Xihu District Gudang police substation (杭州西湖区古荡派出所) for interrogation by State Security officers from Beijing. Source.
5:10pm
Friends of Wu Rongrong receive “a call from her with cries of pain. The line was cut instantly and could not be reconnected.” Source.
Lawyer Yan Xin (燕薪) goes to the Haidian police substation where an officer confirms that Li Tingting (Li Maizi) is being held there. The officer says “another department” is handling the case, but refuses to provide information on which department or how to contact it. Source.
Xu Ting and Yu Lian have been released, according to Lawyer Yanxin. Source.
Zheng Churan (Datu) is transferred to Beijing Haidian District Detention Center (北京海淀区看守所). Source.
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March 06 |
4:00pm, Beijing
Wei Tingting (韦婷婷) and Wang Man (王曼) taken to Beijing Haidian police substation (北京市海淀区派出所) for interrogation. Source.
11:30pm, Beijing
Li Tingting’s (李婷婷), also known as Li Maizi (李麦子), home was searched by five or six police from the Taipingqiao police substation (太平桥派出所), Tel: 010 62275110); afterwards she was taken away by neighborhood police (片区警察). Source.
11:30pm-12:00midnight, Guangzhou
Zheng Churan (郑楚然), also known as Datu (大兔), taken from her home by six police from the Guangzhou Xinganglu police substation (广州新港路派出所). After being questioned for two hours, she was accompanied by police to her home to retrieve the leaflets calling for end to sexual harassment on March 8, and then taken back to the police substation. Police said she would be released after 2 hours. Source.
Time unclear, Beijing
Gao Lei (高磊), Xu Ting (徐汀), and Yu Lian (于莲) taken by police. Source.
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