Human Rights Lawyers Wang Yu and Jiang Tianyong Detained, Wang Yu Protests with Hunger Strike

The image shows lawyer Wang Yu (right) meeting with Xu Yan (left), wife of lawyer Yu Wensheng, in November 2020.(From Xu Yan’s X platform)

People News– Chinese human rights lawyers Wang Yu and Jiang Tianyong were administratively detained by the Wei County Public Security Bureau in Hebei after providing legal assistance for a case. Wang Yu’s husband, Bao Longjun, met with her on Saturday and stated that Wang Yu had committed no unlawful actions and should not have been detained. Currently, Wang Yu is protesting by staging a hunger strike and has filed a complaint against officer Cao Ran of Weicheng Town Police Station for alleged rough treatment.

According to Radio Free Asia, on October 23, the embezzlement trial of Liu Meixiang was held at the Wei County Court in Hebei. On the same day, Wang Yu, Jiang Tianyong, and two others were detained while supporting Liu's case. While Han Yajun was released, Wang Yu, Jiang Tianyong, and Qiu Bin received administrative detentions of nine and eight days, respectively. Two days later, the detainees' legal representatives, Peng Peng, Duan Hanjie, and Shi Yu, attempted to meet with them at Wei County Detention Center but were denied access because the detention center required permission from the case handlers. This was deemed a violation of Article 26 of the Detention Center Regulations, leading the lawyers to file a complaint with the Wei County Public Security Bureau, which yielded no response.

Wang Yu Protests in Detention Center with Hunger Strike

An anonymous lawyer shared with Radio Free Asia on Tuesday that a family member of the detainee witnessed heavy police presence at the court entrance. When this family member took a photo, police officers seized their camera. In the scuffle, Jiang Tianyong was inadvertently drawn into the fray without physical involvement. However, he was detained for "disrupting public order" and given an eight-day administrative detention. Wang Yu protested against the police's actions and was allegedly mistreated, resulting in her nine-day detention. "She’s been on a hunger and water strike since being detained," the lawyer added.

Wang Yu’s husband, Bao Longjun, told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday, October 29, that after coordination with the Public Security Bureau, Wang Yu, Jiang Tianyong, and Qiu Bin were able to meet with their lawyers and family on October 26. Lawyer Peng Peng confirmed after meeting with Wang that she was on a hunger strike and that her left arm was injured during the detention. Bao said, “We saw Wang Yu. She’s on a hunger strike in protest. Authorities claim she disrupted the work at Weicheng Town Police Station, but she merely sat outside with four others before being forcibly taken to the station. About ten police officers restrained her roughly, even pushing her into a cage, and her top was removed.”

Repeated calls by this publication to the Wei County Public Security Bureau and Weicheng Town Police Station went unanswered.

Daily Detention Center Rations Limited to Porridge and Pickles

Bao Longjun reported that Wang Yu accused the arresting officer, Cao Ran, of forcibly twisting her arm, causing injury, and treating her inappropriately. Additionally, Wang described poor conditions within the detention center, with limited access to drinking water, which has worsened her physical condition. Lawyer Duan Hanjie, after meeting Jiang Tianyong, also noted the poor food quality at the center, where only a small amount of porridge and pickles are provided daily.

The legal team has continued to file requests to meet with detainees, only to be denied, and the lawyers are planning further appeals against the detention center's restrictions.

Earlier, this publication reported that the trial of Liu Meixiang, a Ping An Insurance salesperson accused of embezzlement, was held on the morning of October 23 at Wei County People’s Court. However, both Liu’s appointed defense advocate, Bao Longjun, and her husband, Qiu Bin, were barred from entering the court. Supporter Jiang Tianyong was given an eight-day administrative detention, while lawyers Wang Yu and Qiu Bin were detained for nine days each.