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.