Chinese Human Rights ⁤Lawyer Jiang Qingfang Barred from Practicing Law

A Hong Kong newspaper reported‌ on September 27 that Jiang ⁤Qingfang,⁤ a human rights lawyer⁤ who has continuously criticized the ​Communist Party ​Discipline ⁢Commission, China’s ⁢highest judicial ‌body, has been notified ‌by the authorities that he is no longer allowed to practice law.

According to reports, ⁤the Beijing Judicial Bureau ‍issued an administrative action ‍on September⁤ 20⁣ to revoke Attorney Jiang’s⁤ practicing law certificate and notified him of this decision.

Attorney Jiang stated that this decision is retaliation for exposing problems in the⁢ local organization of the Discipline Committee since last‌ year. He has requested ‌a hearing⁤ on unfair administrative measures ⁣in Beijing but has received‍ no response.

It ​is believed that the cancellation‌ of Attorney Jiang’s practicing law certificate ‌is ‌related to his report on⁢ unfair acts that exceeded the authority of the ‌local discipline committee while working as a⁢ defense lawyer for the bribery case of ⁤Wu Min, former⁣ chairman ​of the People’s ⁣Congress of Ji’an City, Jiangxi Province.

Attorney Jiang has focused⁣ on human rights protection activities⁣ and ​has⁤ defended lawyer Xu Zhiyong, who was ​imprisoned while leading the ‘New Citizens’ Movement, ⁣which demanded ⁤disclosure of public​ officials’ assets.

In China, the Communist Party’s Central Discipline Commission and the National Supervision Commission have local organizations in each region. This⁣ organization is considered the highest judicial institution as it controls not only⁢ the police and prosecutors but also‌ the courts.

If⁣ an investigation⁣ is carried out against a Communist Party member and suspicions of ‍corruption are confirmed, they are handed over to ‌the prosecution for indictment. If⁤ necessary, a punishment is imposed, such as losing public office and party membership at the same time.

With nearly 100 million Chinese Communist ⁤Party members and a one-party system in China, most public officials are party members. The Discipline Committee is​ known as the grim reaper to public officials.

Chinese​ President⁤ Xi Jinping is ⁣using the ‌Discipline Commission ‍as​ a ‍spearhead in the fight‍ against corruption and as a means of strengthening power as he enters his third⁢ consecutive five-year term following the 18th Communist Party National ​Congress in 2017.