Detained rights lawyer Chang Weiping — whose lawyers say he has suffered torture in incommunicado detention — stood trial for subversion on Tuesday behind closed doors, as his wife was prevented from traveling to the court in the northern Chinese province of Shaanxi.
Ambassadors in China express concern about lawyer #ChangWeiping’s case, and urge the release of all human rights lawyers and activists.
???????????????????????????????????@ukinchina @SwissEmbChina @GerAmbChina @France_en_Chine @zijuan_chen pic.twitter.com/fGkcOEVFN2— The 29 Principles (@the29principles) July 26, 2022
Chang’s trial on charges of “subversion of state power” began at 9.00 a.m. local time at the Feng County People’s Court, as his wife Chen Zijuan tweeted that she had been pulled over at a highway exit and prevented from taking the exit for the court.
The sentence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a minimum jail term of 10 years.
#ChangWeiping’s CLOSED-DOOR trial begins today. Family who tried to attend the court were either shadowed or held, Chang’s wife @zijuan_chen could only show her support by holding a bouquet at the roadblock. French and German Ambassador in China expressed their support to Chang. pic.twitter.com/jH393LWPY7
— The 29 Principles (@the29principles) July 26, 2022
The trial lasted around 90 minutes, with sentencing to be announced at a later date, Chen said via her Twitter account.
“Chang Weiping, I stand here today at the highway exit for Feng county,” Chen, clad in a green suit and holding a large bouquet of flowers, says in a short video recorded as police and COVID-19 enforcement officials mill around her.
"Today is your day of suffering, but it is also your day of glory," said Chang Weiping’s wife @zijuan_chen, who was blocked from attending her husband’s trial so she can only show her support with a bunch of flowers at the roadblock. https://t.co/bAqbRQueRC
— The 29 Principles (@the29principles) July 26, 2022
“I want to present these flowers to you. Today is your Good Friday; but also I think your day of glory,” she said. “I’m so sorry that I was unable to be there for you in person despite traveling more than 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) in the hope of seeing you with my own eyes.”
“But they have been holding me here on this highway for more than 10 hours now,” Chen says. “I just heard from the lawyer that the trial is over already.”
“But whatever the outcome, this has not been a fair trial. This trial wasn’t yours; instead it was the scene of their crime.”
Global response
German ambassador to China Patricia Flor hit out at the treatment of Chen.
“#ChangWeiping’s wife @zijuan_chen was held up at a roadblock when trying to enter Feng [county], where she wanted to attend the trial,” Flor said via her official Twitter account.
“It is unacceptable that relatives are obstructed from supporting a defendant. #Justice needs #transparency.”
The French embassy in Beijing also tweeted on Tuesday: “The French Embassy in Beijing stands with human rights lawyer CHANG Weiping and his family ahead of his closed trial on 26 July … and reiterates its support for human rights lawyers working for the rule of law in China.”
The British government account @UKinChina called for the release of Chang and all prisoners of conscience in China.
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https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/trial-07262022125525.html
https://safeguarddefenders.com/en/blog/3-ways-china-blocks-access-lawyers
Chinese rights lawyer Chang Weiping tried in secret as family members held by police
