CNHRA PERSON RECORD · CNHRA-P-778282
Fang Bin
Born
Unknown
Occupation
Businessman · Citizen journalist
Role
Citizen Journalist
Record ID
CNHRA-P-778282
Biography
Fang Bin is a Wuhan businessman and citizen journalist who recorded hospitals and streets with his phone during the early COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. His videos included people seeking care, bodies being moved outside a hospital and residents’ responses to the epidemic.[1][2]
A video Fang recorded at Wuhan No. 5 Hospital on February 1, 2020 drew attention. RFA reported the next day that police took him to a station that evening, questioned and warned him about posting the footage, then released him.[2]
After continuing to post outbreak footage, Fang was detained again in February and disappeared from public view. HRW discussed his case alongside Chen Qiushi and Terminus 2049 volunteers in April 2020 and called for disclosure of their whereabouts and release.[1]
Case Summary
CNA’s 2023 retrospective records residential surveillance from February 9, 2020, subsequent formal arrest and a three-year sentence for picking quarrels and provoking trouble in 2021. Sentencing information became widely public late in his imprisonment; an appeal was rejected in August 2022.[3]
Fang completed his sentence and was released on April 30, 2023. CNA cited sources saying authorities planned to send him to Beijing. HRW’s World Report 2024 also records his April 2023 release after three years in custody.[3][4]
Timeline
2020-02-01
Questioned after hospital video
Fang filmed the outbreak at Wuhan No. 5 Hospital and posted footage before being taken to a police station that evening. RFA reports that police warned him over distribution and released him.[2]
2020-02-09
Detained again and disappears from public view
2021
Three-year sentence
CNA’s 2023 account records a three-year sentence for picking quarrels and provoking trouble in 2021 and a subsequent appeal, also recounting the later appeal and notification of relatives.[3]
2022-08
Sentence upheld on appeal
According to CNA’s retrospective, the appeal court upheld the three-year term in August. The family subsequently received notice of his forthcoming release.[3]
Related Events
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-711091Human Rights Watch
Evidence location: Terminus 2049 and Liren volunteering; April 19, 2020 detentions; Fang Bin and Chen Qiushi’s Wuhan reporting and disappearance.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-081686Radio Free Asia
Evidence location: February 2, 2020 brief: previous day’s hospital footage, police questioning and subsequent release.
- [3]
CNHRA-S-226271Central News Agency
Evidence location: February 9, 2020 residential surveillance, 2021 three-year sentence, August 2022 appeal and April 30, 2023 release report.
- [4]
CNHRA-S-365345Human Rights Watch
Evidence location: Freedom of expression section: Fang’s April 2023 release after three years in custody.