Joint letter - release Wang Quanzhang
7 February 2019

Joint letter – release Wang Quanzhang

China

In a joint letter, the International Association of Lawyers (UIA), the Law Society of England and Wales, Lawyers for Lawyers, the German Bar Association (Deutscher Anwaltverein) and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada expressed concerns about the recent conviction and sentencing of lawyer Wang Quanzhang.

On 28 January 2019, the Tianjin Municipal No.2 Intermediate People’s Court found prominent human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang guilty of “subversion of state power” and sentenced him to 4 years and 6 months in prison and 5-year deprivation of political rights.

Wang Quanzhang is a human rights lawyer who has a history of taking on sensitive cases, including defending Falun Gong practitioners, investigative journalists and democracy advocates.

In August 2015, police arrested Wang Quanzhang in the context of the ‘709 crackdown’. He disappeared for months before he was charged in January 2016 with ‘subversion of state power’. Before the start of the trial, Wang Quanzhang had 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 the joint letter, the International Association of Lawyers (UIA), the Law Society of England and Wales, Lawyers for Lawyers, the German Bar Association (Deutscher Anwaltverein) and Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada called for the annulment of the conviction of Wang Quanzhang and for his immediate and unconditional release. Read the full letter here

 

 

Meer nieuws uit China

8 November 2024

Chinese human rights lawyer’s situation worsens: Xu Zhiyong must be released

China

In a joint statement, Lawyers for Lawyers, The Law Society of England and Wales (‘the Law Society’), Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, Asian Lawyers Network, the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute, 29 Principles, The Rights Practice, and the Council of

Lees verder
5 November 2024

Joint Statement on the sentencing of Chinese human rights lawyers Yu Wensheng and his wife Xu Yan

China

Lawyers for Lawyers, together with five other human rights and lawyers’ rights organisations, has issued a statement condemning the sentencing of Chinese human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife Xu Yan. We believe they are being targeted for their

Lees verder
15 July 2024

Release of Chang Weiping After 3,5 Years Detention

China

On 8 July, the evening of the 9th anniversary of the ‘709 crackdown’, Chinese Human Rights lawyer Chang Weiping has been released after completing his 3,5 year administrative detention in Feng County Detention Centre, Shaanxi province.  Mr. Chang was sentenced

Lees verder
15 July 2024

Joint oral statement on the adoption of China’s 4th UPR report at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council

China

Lawyers for Lawyers and several other organisations cosigned an oral statement on the adoption of China’s 4th UPR report at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council. The statement was delivered during the Interactive Dialogue on the adoption

Lees verder