CNHRA EVENT RECORD · CNHRA-E-072106
He Fangmei: five-and-a-half-year sentence and children’s whereabouts
Date
2020-10-09
Location
Huixian, Henan (protest and trial); Xinxiang (custody)
Event Type
Detention · Disappearance · Trial · Sentencing
Human Rights Issues
Freedom of Expression · Right to a Fair Trial · Right to Liberty and Security
Record ID
CNHRA-E-072106
Summary
He Fangmei was taken away after protesting in Huixian, Henan, on October 9, 2020. A UN Special Procedures communication records that she was pregnant and that relatives could not establish her precise whereabouts for a prolonged period.[1]
Description
He Fangmei was taken away after protesting in Huixian, Henan, on October 9, 2020. A UN Special Procedures communication records that she was pregnant and that relatives could not establish her precise whereabouts for a prolonged period.[1]
Her trial took place in March 2022, and family-appointed counsel first met her in January 2023. On October 23, 2024, the Huixian Municipal Court imposed one year and nine months for bigamy and four years for picking quarrels and provoking trouble, with a combined term of five years and six months.[1][2]
UN Special Procedures wrote to China on January 3, 2025, setting out information received about sentencing, access to counsel and the children and requesting a response. The communication states that two daughters had been kept in a psychiatric hospital and moved to an undisclosed location in April 2024; relatives had not established their whereabouts when the letter was sent.[1]
Developments
Taken away after protest and loses contact
He was taken away after another black-paint protest at the Huixian government building while pregnant. Relatives repeatedly sought information from police and prosecutors without a full account of her whereabouts.[1]
Family learns of arrest and trial
Relatives received an arrest notice dated March 23 alleging bigamy and picking quarrels and provoking trouble and learned that trial had taken place. The UN communication says family-appointed lawyers found out only after the hearing.[1]
First meeting with family-appointed counsel
Family-appointed counsel first met He at Xinxiang Detention Center and learned about the earlier trial and separation from her children. In May she wrote to entrust the three children to her sister.[1]
Combined sentence of five years and six months
UN Special Procedures communication
Several UN Special Procedures mandates wrote to China about information received concerning He’s sentence and children, requesting responses to the allegations, information on the children’s whereabouts and measures to safeguard rights.[1]
Related People
Organizations
No organizations have been added.
Documents
No documents have been added to this record yet.
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-636282OHCHR
Evidence location: AL CHN 17/2024, January 3, 2025, PDF pp. 1–5: earlier cases, 2022 trial, 2024 sentence and information on children; subsequent pages contain questions to China.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-389865Front Line Defenders
Evidence location: October 23, 2024 judgment update and case chronology: health advocacy, lawyer access and family.