CNHRA PERSON RECORD · CNHRA-P-785303
Qin Yongpei
Born
Unknown
Occupation
Lawyer
Role
Human Rights Defender · Public Commentator
Record ID
CNHRA-P-785303
Biography
Qin Yongpei is a Guangxi lawyer who founded and directed Baijuming Law Firm. His work included legal assistance for vulnerable groups, administrative detention, industrial pollution, forced demolition and wrongful convictions, as well as defending lawyers facing prosecution.[1]
Police briefly took Qin for questioning during the July 2015 crackdown on lawyers. He regularly commented online on policy, official abuse of power and human rights cases, and several of his social media accounts were closed following critical posts.[1]
After Qin’s detention, his wife Deng Xiaoyun sought legal assistance and made information public. Front Line Defenders records that she was approved as his defender in 2021 and met him at a Nanning detention center on August 4, their first meeting since his 2019 detention.[1]
Case Summary
Qin was held from October 31, 2019, and prosecutors indicted him for inciting subversion on May 29, 2020. Trial took place on December 31, 2021, followed by repeated extensions of the judgment deadline.[1]
On March 31, 2023, the Nanning Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Qin to five years and three years’ deprivation of political rights. The Guangxi High People’s Court upheld the judgment on December 29. He completed the five-year term and returned home in Nanning on October 31, 2024.[1]
Timeline
2019-10-31
Detained in Nanning
Police detained Qin, who was subsequently held in Nanning. His family and lawyers sought access publicly, and the case proceeded on an inciting-subversion charge.[1]
2020-05-29
Prosecutors indict Qin
Nanning prosecutors indicted Qin for inciting subversion and sent the case to the intermediate court, following an earlier return for supplementary investigation.[1]
2021-08-04
Wife meets him as defender
Deng Xiaoyun met Qin at the detention center after being approved as a defender. FLD records their first meeting since October 2019 and his stated refusal to plead guilty and wish for an open trial.[1]
2021-12-31
Trial held
The Nanning court tried Qin without an immediate judgment. FLD subsequently recorded extensions of the judgment deadline; sentencing followed in March 2023.[1]
2023-03-31
Five-year sentence
The Nanning Intermediate People’s Court imposed five years for inciting subversion and three years’ deprivation of political rights. Qin appealed, and the Guangxi High Court upheld the judgment on December 29.[1]
2024-10-31
Returns home after completing sentence
Qin was released after completing five years and returned to his home in Nanning, Guangxi. FLD updated its chronology the following day to record the actual release and return.[1]
Related Events
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-335373Front Line Defenders
Evidence location: Legal background and Deng Xiaoyun’s visit; 2019 detention, 2021 trial, 2023 sentence and appeal, October 31, 2024 return home.