Feminist activist Huang Xueqin and labor-rights activist Wang Jianbing were sentenced to prison after nearly 1,000 days in detention.

By Arthur Kaufman | Published by China Digital Times

Summary

June 14: Journalist and feminist activist Huang Xueqin and labor-rights activist Wang Jianbing were convicted of “inciting subversion of state power” and sentenced to prison for five years and three and a half years, respectively, by the Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court on Friday.

The sentencing was condemned by international rights groups as a harsh punishment for exercising freedom of speech and supporting victims of abuse.

Arrested in 2021, the activists endured an unusually long pretrial detention of two years. The trial lasted a day, and the verdict did not come for nine months, despite China’s criminal procedure law stipulating a maximum wait of three months, with an additional three-month extension for exceptional cases. Both were held without access to lawyers for 47 days before any formal arrest notices were shared with family and friends. Dozens of their friends were questioned after their arrest, and many were forced to sign testimonies against them.

Huang was also deprived of political rights for four years and fined 100,000 RMB, while Wang was deprived of political rights for three years and fined 50,000 RMB.

Huang told the court on Friday she intended to appeal. The sentence was longer than expected, and supporters expressed their support for Huang’s intention to appeal.

Critics of the court’s decision stated that using national security as a reason to suppress civil society activists denies the value of social justice and rejects the moderate voices of civil society. The prosecution was described as a cruel farce that only reveals how fearful the Chinese Communist Party is of citizens’ desire for basic rights.

Feminism is something Beijing has tried to quash in recent years through the persecution of activists, the censor of feminist content online, and the shutter of feminist groups. Given Huang’s role in kick-starting China’s #MeToo campaign, the harsh verdict is likely a warning to other activists.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have criticized the convictions. They call for the immediate and unconditional release of Huang and Wang, saying they have committed no actual crime.

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