CNHRA PERSON RECORD · CNHRA-P-289181
Li Heping
Born
Unknown
Occupation
Human rights lawyer
Role
Human Rights Defender
Record ID
CNHRA-P-289181
Biography
Li Heping is a lawyer handling human rights and public-interest cases. He defended members of the New Youth Study Group in 2002 and later represented environmental advocates, religious figures and prosecuted lawyers, while campaigning against torture.[2]
His clients included villagers affected by land seizures, people facing restrictions on religious belief, and rights advocates including Chen Guangcheng and Gao Zhisheng. The CCBE awarded him its human rights prize in 2008. On November 27 that year, he was stopped at Beijing airport while traveling to Brussels to receive it.[3]
In a 2010 interview with Ai Weiwei, Li recalled how defending Yang Zili led him to examine the relationship between criminal defense and political rights. In 2005 he joined Gao Zhisheng and others in helping Zhu Jiuhu, detained after representing private oil-well owners in northern Shaanxi. Li described the satisfaction of successful advocacy as a reason to remain a lawyer.[5]
Front Line Defenders reported his abduction and beating in 2007, refusal to renew his license in 2009 and disappearance from contact in 2011. Beijing police took him away on July 10, 2015. Family and chosen lawyers were denied visits, and authorities disclosed his detention in Tianjin only in January 2016.[2]
His trial was held behind closed doors on April 25, 2017. Three days later the court announced a three-year prison term suspended for four years. His wife learned of the hearing after it ended. He returned home on May 10; Front Line Defenders reported close surveillance at that time.[1][2]
The Secretary-General’s 2024 report records the lifting of Li’s suspended-sentence restrictions on May 8, 2021. It reports that his wife and daughter were prevented from boarding an international flight in June 2023 and subsequently questioned. China replied in July 2024 that Li and Wang Qiaoling were not subject to judicial coercive measures.[4]
Case Summary
Beijing police took Li away on July 10, 2015, and seized books, files and electronic equipment from his home. Front Line Defenders reported that family and chosen lawyers were denied visits and learned of his detention in Tianjin only in January 2016.[2]
A closed trial on April 25, 2017, was followed by announcement of a three-year sentence suspended for four years on April 28 and return home on May 10. HRW identifies the offense as subversion, while Front Line Defenders uses inciting subversion; the original judgment is needed to resolve the wording.[1][2]
Timeline
2002
Defends New Youth Study Group members
Front Line Defenders records his defense of four New Youth Study Group members facing subversion-related accusations.[2]
2005
Joins legal support over the northern Shaanxi oilfield case
In his 2010 interview, Li recalled helping Zhu Jiuhu with Gao Zhisheng and other lawyers.
In the 2010 interview, Li recalled that Zhu Jiuhu had been detained after representing private oil-well operators in northern Shaanxi and that Gao Zhisheng and other lawyers helped. Li linked such work with his earlier representation of Yang Zili, discussing professional responsibility and satisfaction in defending clients. This is his account of the motivation behind his legal practice.[5]
2007
Reported abduction and beating
Front Line Defenders’ retrospective describes abduction and beating by men believed to be plainclothes police.[2]
2008-11-27
Prevented from traveling to receive award
The CCBE records that he was stopped at Beijing airport while traveling to Brussels to receive its human rights award.[3]
2009
License renewal refused
Front Line Defenders reports refusal to renew his legal-practice license.[2]
2011
Earlier disappearance from contact
Front Line Defenders recalls his disappearance from contact during the 2011 Jasmine crackdown.[2]
2015-07-10
Taken by Beijing police
Front Line Defenders records his removal and seizure of books, files and electronic equipment.[2]
2016-01
Tianjin detention location disclosed
Front Line Defenders records disclosure of custody at Tianjin No. 1 Detention Center, with family and chosen lawyers still denied visits.[2]
2017-04-25
Reported secret trial
HRW reports a trial on this date without notification to his family.
Human Rights Watch reports that the family learned of the hearing only afterward; the three-year sentence suspended for four years was announced on April 28. HRW and Front Line Defenders use different English formulations of the offense, pending comparison with the full judgment. The hearing, announcement and actual return home on May 10 are three separate stages.[1][2]
2017-04-28
Three-year sentence suspended for four years
2017-05-10
Returns home
Front Line Defenders records his return home following the suspended sentence and close surveillance at that time.
His return followed the sentencing announcement, and Front Line Defenders still reported close surveillance at the time. The UN Secretary-General’s 2024 report dates the end of probation-related restrictions to May 8, 2021 and records later reports of family members being prevented from leaving China. Homecoming, expiry of restrictions and actual family circumstances are distinct questions.[2][4]
2021-05-08
Suspended-sentence restrictions lifted
The Secretary-General’s 2024 report records the lifting of Li’s suspended-sentence restrictions on this date.[4]
2023-06
Reported restrictions on family departure
The Secretary-General’s 2024 report records the lifting of Li’s suspended-sentence restrictions on May 8, 2021. It reports that his wife and daughter were prevented from boarding an international flight in June 2023 and subsequently questioned. China replied in July 2024 that Li and Wang Qiaoling were not subject to judicial coercive measures.[4]
Related Events
Documents
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-300100Human Rights Watch
Evidence location: Displayed May 1 EDT date (URL dated May 2); passages on the April 25 trial, April 28 sentence and July 2015 detention.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-330352Front Line Defenders
Evidence location: 10 May 2017 update; detention, trial, suspension and return home; charge translation discrepancy.
- [3]
CNHRA-S-446038Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe
Evidence location: PDF page 13: 2008 award and blocked departure on November 27.
- [4]
CNHRA-S-271786United Nations
Evidence location: Annex II, paragraphs 60–63 and 69–70, printed pages 46–49; reported restrictions and government replies.
- [5]
CNHRA-S-950222China Change
Evidence location: Editor’s note and The Yang Zili Case and the Northern Shaanxi Oilfield Case.