Displaced 13 Times in 2 Months, Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Faces Increasing Harassment

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Wang Quanzhang, a disbarred human rights lawyer in China, has been forced to relocate 13 times within a span of two months. This situation marks a growing trend of harassment directed at him and three other distinguished rights activists in Beijing, intensifying pressure on the country’s beleaguered civil rights sector.

Wang is currently living in a loaned apartment in the suburbs, often facing frequent power outages. In contrast, another lawyer has left Beijing entirely, aiming to escape the harassment. Bao Longjun, his colleague, still lives in his apartment but has been repeatedly prohibited from leaving by unidentified men who lurk outside his door. Bao also reported that a fourth lawyer and his spouse have been detained.

The four are significant members of the 709 lawyers, named after July 9, 2015, when a crackdown on independent legal advocates commenced, leading to hundreds of arrests. These advocates are a critical support for individuals facing political charges or trying to navigate through opaque bureaucracies for denied benefits.

The scope of their work includes defending members of the banned religious movement Falun Gong, labeled by Beijing as an “evil cult,” and assisting citizens in advocating for pension increases.

Despite their disbarment following the 2015 arrests, the four have continued to engage in similar work that does not necessitate a law license.

Yaqiu Wang, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch for China, stated that the tribulations faced by these lawyers coincided with a series of visits from foreign dignitaries. This included French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s foreign minister, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

These meetings were meant to symbolize China’s openness for business and engagement. However, Yaqiu Wang pointed out the inhumane treatment of human rights lawyers and their families clearly showed a resolve to suppress Chinese civil society.

Beijing’s police department did not provide a response to a request for comment.

In mid-April, disbarred rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife were detained by Beijing police en route to the European Union Delegation, according to Bao Longjun. Simultaneously, two other rights lawyers were sentenced to over 10 years in prison on charges of “subverting state power.”

The situation became increasingly unsettling for Bao and Wang. Unidentified groups of men started congregating outside their homes, prohibiting them from leaving. The lawyers speculate these men to be unofficial contractors for the police, used by local Chinese governments to exert extralegal pressure on individuals seen as troublesome.

Pressure mounted when Wang’s landlord declared his lease invalid, compelling his family to move. After initially resisting, they had to leave when their apartment’s utilities were disconnected.

Li Heping, another disbarred rights lawyer, and his family vacated Beijing following similar pressure, according to Wang and U.S.-based activist Sophie Luo. Li declined an interview.

Bao, owning his home, did not have to relocate. However, he frequently encounters groups of plainly dressed men who intermittently restrict his movement.

Bao believes this harassment aims to force advocates to leave Beijing, with the hope that the advocates’ return to their hometowns will shift the issue onto local governments.

Wang and his wife, Li Wenzu, remain in Beijing. Over a month and a half, they have switched residences from apartment to hotel and back 13 times. They are followed to each new location by groups of men who alarm landlords and neighbors.

At times, Wang and his wife have been asked to leave hotels on the same day of their arrival. The longest they managed to stay at a single place was nine days. The couple eventually sent their 10-year-old son to live with relatives.

The couple has spent the past week in a friend’s suburban Beijing apartment, where power outages are frequent.

Although Wang described his ordeal with restraint, his frustration was evident. “Of course, I hope I can live a peaceful life,” he said. “For now, I’m just living one day at a time.”

Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News reporter Dake Kang and photojournalist Han Guan Ng from Beijing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chinese Human Rights Harassment

More about Chinese Human Rights Harassment

• Crackdown on Lawyers and Activists in China
• The Case of Wang Quanzhang
• The Persecution of Falun Gong
• The State of Human Rights in China