Joint petition letter – Wang Quanzhang

Lawyer Wang Quanzhang was seized by the police on 3 August 2015 in the context of the ‘709 crackdown’, during which 321 lawyers and human rights defenders were arrested. Charged in January 2016 for allegedly ‘subversion of state power’, Wang Quanzhang is the last of the lawyers affected by the ‘709 crackdown’ not to have been tried nor released. His wife Li Wenzu has filed 30 suits against the court demanding a trial for her husband, in line with Chinese law, but to no avail. She and her son are also subjected to measures of intimidation and harassment and have been denied the right to visit him.

Wang Quanzhang has been held incommunicado for over three years and without any form of due process. He was not given access to an independent legal counsellor of his choosing and has been denied access to his family lawyer, who was allegedly intimidated into withdrawing from his case. In addition, his health condition is deteriorating due to forced medication to treat high blood pressure, even though he had no medical problems at the time of his disappearance.

The signatory groups of the letter express their concern about the situation of Wang Quanzhang and the continued harassment of many other Chinese lawyers because they exercise their mandate as legal professionals and human rights defenders. Therefore, the signatory groups call on the Chinese authorities to:

• Release without delay lawyer Wang Quanzhang and those being held for exercising their fundamental human rights or for defending the exercise of such rights by others;
• Stop any form of harassment against Li Wenzu and their child, and condemn any future harassment of families of detained lawyers by local authorities.

• Ensure due process and fair trial for all detained lawyers, and recognize publicly the important work they carry out in defending the basic rights of Chinese citizens, mostly economic, social and cultural rights;
• Protect Wang Quanzhang and all human rights defenders in China against any present or future harassment, intimidation and/or reprisal in the exercise of their profession and of legitimate human rights activities;
• Cooperate meaningfully with relevant international experts, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, to amend all laws and policies that restrict the ability of lawyers to freely and effectively exercise their profession with the aim of bringing them into compliance with international norms andChina’s international obligations and commitments.

Click here for the official press release.