Dear Director Zhang Rui / Chief Procurator Zhang Jian,
I am writing to express my concern for #MeToo activist Huang Xueqin (黄雪琴) and labour activist Wang Jiangbing (王建兵). On 14 June 2024, Huang was sentenced to five years and Wang to three years and six months, for “inciting subversion of state power” (煽动颠覆国家政权). Both of them have formally filed appeals with the Guangdong High Court.
Huang and Wang were both detained in Guangzhou from 19 September 2021 and held incommunicado for more than five months. Huang was reported to be forced by the authorities to dismiss the lawyer of her choice and accept a state-appointed lawyer instead. Only after domestic and international pressure was she allowed to appoint her own lawyer again.
Furthermore, I am extremely concerned about their health. According to reliable sources, Wang has serious heart and gastrointestinal problems and has been unable to receive timely and appropriate examination and treatment, despite his repeated expressions of concern to the administration of the detention centre. Prior to their sentencing, Huang was also reported to be suffering from prolonged amenorrhoea and sudden weight loss, among other health problems.
Sentenced only for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association, Sophia Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing should be released immediately. Therefore, I urge you to:
• Release Sophia Huang Xueqin and Wang Jianbing immediately and unconditionally;
• Pending their release, ensure that they have prompt access to adequate medical care, including a regular full body checkup and treatment by qualified medical professionals, and that they are not subjected to torture or other forms of ill-treatment;
• Stop harassing, arresting, and threatening other human rights defenders who peacefully exercise their right to freedom of association and other human rights.
Taustatietoa
Guangzhou Intermediate Court sentenced Sophia Huang Xueqin to five years in prison and labour activist Wang Jianbing to three years and six months in prison for “inciting subversion of state power” on 14 June 2024. Both of them have formally appealed to the Guangdong High Court.
Huang Xueqin is a journalist who has been involved in several #MeToo campaigns to provide support and assistance to survivors of sexual assault and harassment. Wang Jianbing has provided legal support for people with disabilities and workers with occupational diseases. He is also a prominent supporter of the #MeToo movement in China.
Their conviction is related to their involvement with weekly gatherings with fellow activists, hosted by Wang Jianbing. In addition, Huang and Wang participated in online human rights education activities and authored online posts on issues deemed “sensitive” by the Chinese government.
The pair were arrested in Guangzhou on 19 September 2021, the day before Huang was planning to leave China for the UK to study for a master’s degree. Both were detained incommunicado for more than five months.
Since their arrest, both activists have been prevented from seeing family members. Meanwhile, dozens of their friends have been summoned by the police and had their homes searched and electronic devices confiscated.
Both Huang and Wang have reportedly been subjected to ill-treatment in detention, leading to the serious deterioration of their health. According to reliable sources recently, Wang’s recent health condition is worsening, particularly regarding his heart and gastrointestinal issues. During routine checkups, he was found to have mitral valve insufficiency, left ventricular abnormalities, and arrhythmia, with occasional severe chest pains. Due to the prolonged digestive issues that developed during his early solitary confinement, exacerbated by fatigue from interrogations, he frequently experiences diarrhoea. Despite the repeated expression of his concerns, the detention centre has taken no action to date, and has rejected the medicine sent to him. Despite these challenges, he remains mentally resilient and has requested philosophical books. Prior to their sentencing, Huang was also reported to be suffering from prolonged amenorrhoea and sudden weight loss, among other health problems.
The Chinese authorities systematically use national security charges with extremely vague provisions, such as “subverting state power” and “inciting subversion of state power”, to prosecute lawyers, scholars, journalists, activists, NGO workers, and others.
Amnesty International published a joint statement with other organizations in September 2023 on the second anniversary of their detention. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined in 2022 that Wang Jianbing was being arbitrarily detained and has repeatedly called on China to repeal the crime of “inciting subversion” or bring it into line with international standards.
Letters to call for better treatment and release of Huang and Wang can be sent to Director Zhang Rui (Guangzhou Public Security Bureau), Chief Procurator Zhang Jian (Guangzhou City People’s Procuratorate), or both. However, due to the urgency of Huang and Wang’s health, letters to Director Zhang Rui (Guangzhou Public Security Bureau) should be prioritized.