CNHRA EVENT RECORD · CNHRA-E-517617
Wang Quanzhang: 709-related Detention, Sentence and Return Home
Date
2015-08-03
Location
Tianjin, Shandong and Beijing, China
Event Type
Detention · Arrest · Trial · Sentencing · Release
Human Rights Issues
Freedom of Expression · Right to a Fair Trial
Record ID
CNHRA-E-517617
Summary
Description
Wang was detained on August 3, 2015, and formally arrested on January 8, 2016. Opinion No. 62/2018 examined prolonged incommunicado detention and defense rights, finding categories I, II and III arbitrary detention. Tianjin No. 2 Intermediate Court held a closed trial on December 26, 2018.[1][2]
He was sentenced on January 28, 2019, to four and a half years and five years’ deprivation of political rights for subversion. Li Wenzu reported that he was taken to isolation in Jinan after leaving prison on April 5, 2020. Her letter published by Amnesty Luxembourg on May 5 confirmed his subsequent return home.[1][3][4]
The family’s life remained disrupted after release. The UN’s 2024 report recounts pressure on landlords and hotels from April 2023, repeated displacement of Wang’s household and disruption to the child’s schooling.[5]
Developments
Taken into custody
The Observatory records Wang’s detention on this date, followed by prolonged lack of access to family-retained counsel.[1]
Placed in criminal detention
Paragraph 8 records criminal detention on disturbance and inciting-subversion charges, initially at Hexi District Detention Center in Tianjin.[2]
Formally arrested
The Observatory records formal arrest following RSDL.[1]
Returned for supplementary investigation
Paragraph 11 records the prosecution returning the case to police for further investigation.[2]
Indicted
Paragraph 11 dates the indictment to this day.[2]
WGAD adopts arbitrary-detention opinion
Opinion 62/2018, paragraph 82, finds the examined detention arbitrary under categories I, II and III and requests release and remedies. Issuance followed on October 12.[2]
Closed trial
The case was heard behind closed doors after prolonged restrictions on contact with his family and their chosen lawyers.[1]
Four-and-a-half-year sentence
The Observatory reports a sentence of four years and six months and deprivation of political rights.[1]
Leaves prison; reported transfer to quarantine
After completing his sentence, Wang was taken to Jinan. Li Wenzu told CSW that he had not returned directly to his family in Beijing.[3]
Organization reports family reunion
Amnesty Luxembourg published Li Wenzu’s letter confirming Wang had returned home and called for an end to surveillance. May 5 is the publication date, not an asserted reunion date.[4]
Housing and schooling disrupted
The Secretary-General’s 2024 report recounts repeated displacement of Wang and Li Wenzu from April 2023 after reported police pressure on landlords and hotels. It also reports disruption to their child’s schooling.[5]
Related People
Organizations
No organizations have been added.
Documents
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-547840OMCT / FIDH
Evidence location: New information and Background information: detention in 2015, arrest in 2016, trial in 2018 and sentence in 2019.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-434619UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Evidence location: Facts concerning Wang and Jiang; paragraphs 82–85; adoption on 24 August 2018.
- [3]
Evidence location: Opening paragraphs and account attributed to Li Wenzu of release and quarantine transfer.
- [4]
CNHRA-S-614250Amnesty International Luxembourg
Evidence location: Body paragraphs 1–4: Li Wenzu’s letter confirming reunion and the call to end surveillance.
- [5]
CNHRA-S-271786United Nations
Evidence location: Annex II, paragraphs 60–63 and 69–70, printed pages 46–49; reported restrictions and government replies.