Zhang Kai (Chinese: 张凯; pinyin: Zhāng Kǎi) is a human rights lawyer known for defending churches in China that were being forced to remove their crosses and crucifixes.[1] He is also known for representing or campaigning on behalf of the disadvantaged, such as Feng Jianmei, a woman forced by government authorities to have an abortion in 2012.

Arrest and detention

Zhang was detained on 25 August 2015 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, a city with a strong Christian influence. He had been representing churches whose crosses were demolished by government officials, and was also accused of ‘masterminding illegal religious gatherings’.[2] He was charged with “endangering state secrets” and “gathering a crowd to disturb public order” and placed in criminal detention.[3]

Along with a group of religious leaders, Zhang had been scheduled to meet US envoy for religious freedom, David Saperstein, the following day.[4]

Officials in the province have been waging a campaign to remove crosses from more than 1,200 churches and other buildings. Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping was once the Party Committee Secretary of the province.[1] Since coming to power in 2012 Xi’s strict political regime has clamped down on human rights lawyers, liberal academics, journalists, bloggers and feminist campaigners.[5]

Rights groups say the campaign has affected hundreds of parishes.[2]

Zhang, like many of China's human rights lawyers, is a Christian, and earlier in 2015 had posted an online essay denouncing the Communist party’s treatment of Chinese churchgoers.[6]

Zhang made a televised confession, which was rejected by his supporters. Zhang Lei, a fellow human rights lawyer, said “it is utterly appalling for a person to be made to confess on the television”.[5]

Release

Zhang was released on 23 March 2016. He posted a message on WeChat confirming his release, and that he was back in his hometown in Inner Mongolia.[7]

Lawyers and activists detained in China

Other people detained by the authorities include lawyers Wang Yu, Zhou Shifeng, Li Shuyun and Xie Yanyi; as well as Li Heping and his two assistants, Zhao Wei and Gao Yue; another legal assistant, Liu Sixin; and activists Hu Shigen and Gou Hongguo.[8]

In June 2016, there were reports in the South China Morning Post that Zhao Wei had been released after apparently 'confessing' – however these reports have not been confirmed.[9] Her husband also believes that she may have been forced to recant, and disputed the authenticity of statements on her Sina Weibo social media account.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Chinese Lawyer Who Was Detained While Defending Churches Is Released". The New York Times. 25 March 2016.
  2. 1 2 "China releases Christian human rights lawyer held for months in detention | South China Morning Post". Scmp.com. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  3. ↑ Neil Connor (2016-03-24). "Christian lawyer Zhang Kai released in China". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  4. ↑ Carey Lodge (2015-09-02). "US demands release of Chinese Christian pastors and activists | Christian News on Christian Today". Christiantoday.com. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  5. 1 2 Tom Phillips in Beijing (2016-02-26). "Anger as Christian lawyer paraded on Chinese state TV for 'confession' | World news". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  6. ↑ Tom Phillips in Beijing. "Chinese human rights lawyer could face spying charges | World news". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  7. ↑ "Chinese human rights lawyer Zhang Kai released - Christian Solidarity Worldwide". Csw.org.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  8. ↑ "China: Detained Lawyers, Activists Denied Basic Rights | Human Rights Watch". Hrw.org. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
  9. ↑ Posted By: josh rudolph. ""Released" Legal Assistant Zhao Wei Still Missing - China Digital Times (CDT)". China Digital Times. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
  10. ↑ "Young Chinese legal activist 'regrets' civil rights activism | South China Morning Post". Scmp.com. 2016-07-11. Retrieved 2016-07-19.
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