Human Rights Lawyer Qin Yongpei Released from Chinese Prison
Chinese human rights: Human rights lawyer Qin Yongpei has been released after serving five years and returned to his home in Nanning, Guangxi Province, an autonomous region of China. His release on Oct. 31 marked the end of a sentence that human rights advocates see as a targeted response to his legal advocacy in protecting human rights in China. In a post on X, advocacy group Front Line Defenders said, on October 31, human rights lawyer Qin Yongpei completed a five-year sentence, was released from prison and returned to his home in Nanning, Guangxi province.
Retaliation against human rights work
Qin Yongpei is a well-known human rights lawyer and we believe his imprisonment was retaliation against his peaceful and legitimate human rights work. The case underscores the dangers facing human rights defenders in China, where there are heavy restrictions on freedom of speech and political expression. Qin Yongpei's legal troubles began in 2019, when he was arrested on charges of "inciting the subversion of state power" for his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government. His case, which was initially handled by the Nanning Municipal Public Security Bureau, was transferred to the Nanning Municipal People's Procuratorate for further review in 2020 and then moved to the Nanning Intermediate People's Court.
Intermediate court upholds conviction
His lawyer Li Guisheng was reportedly barred from meeting him during this time due to COVID-19 restrictions. On March 31, 2023, the Nanning Intermediate Court officially charged Qin with "inciting the subversion of state power" and sentenced him to five years in prison. Although his legal team appealed to the Higher People's Court of Guangxi Province, the Intermediate Court sentence was upheld. Front Line Defenders expressed relief at Qin's release, but stressed the broader concerns facing activists in China, saying, "While we are happy to hear about his release, human rights defenders in China should be free to do their important work without fear of reprisal." His case has become emblematic of the risks faced by those who challenge state authority in China and advocate for human rights. Qin's release concludes a chapter in a case that has drawn international attention to the civil liberties situation in China and the challenges facing its human rights advocates.
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