Liu Zhengqing
Cases- Location of case in SG report
- 2019-014-003
- Relevant SG report
- Year of the report
- 2019
- From Country
- Country Geolocation
Latitude: 35.86166
Longitude: 104.195397
- Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
- China
- From Region
- Type of record
- Named individual
- Gender
- Male
- Was the victim a foreign national?
- No
- Was the victim a minor?
- No
- Individual's/organization's activity
human rights lawyer
- Type of rights defended
- Unclear in SG Report
- Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
- No
- Reported trigger of reprisal
had engaged with the UN human rights mechanisms
- Engagement with UN body
- Unclear
- Dates of engagement
- Unclear
- Type of attempted engagement
- Unclear
- Dates of mentioned reprisals
- 10 January 2019
- Reprisal information
On 10 January 2019, human rights lawyer Mr. Liu Zhengqing, who had engaged with the UN human rights mechanisms, was disbarred on the grounds that his defense statements “endangered national security” and “slandered” the State. He had previously faced reprisals for representing a human rights defender’s case addressed by the United Nations, and his case had been addressed by several mandate holders in 2011 (CHN 13/2011). 63 Mr. Liu reportedly refused to attend the hearing, which was held in absentia, following which he was notified that he had been stripped of his license to practice law.
- Types of reprisals suffered
- Charge/Investigation/Prosecution: Conviction
- Charge/Investigation/Prosecution: Trial
- Profession-related reprisal
- Alleged/likely perpetrators
- State actors
- Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
- No
- Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
- No
- Government response dates
- 1 July 2019
- Government response content
Regarding the situation of Mr. Liu Zhengqing, the Government indicated that he was disbarred not because of his legal defence of so-called “human rights defenders” but because his legal practice had violated relevant provisions of the Chinese Law on Lawyers. According to the Government, sanctions on a small number of lawyers, such as Mr. Liu Zhengqing, who have violated laws and regulations, serve to protect the rights and interests of the majority of lawyers practicing in accordance with the law. Sanctions also serve to encourage lawyers to practice strictly in accordance with rules and norms and in good faith, to create a favourable environment for legal practice, and to facilitate the rapid and healthy development of the legal profession in China.
- Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
- No
- Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
- No
- Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
- No
- How many times has the case been followed up in subsequent SG reports?
- 2
- In which SG report was this case followed up on? 0
- 2020
- Follow up information provided in SG report 0
The case of human rights lawyer Mr. Liu Zhengqing, who had engaged with UN human rights mechanisms, was included in the 2019 report of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/42/30, para. 45 and Annex I, paras. 13, 16) on allegations of disbarment for that engagement (CHN 13/2011). 7 During the reporting period, it was reported to OHCHR that Mr. Liu Zhengqing remained unemployed as he is still disbarred and is unable to represent clients in court.
On 17 August 2020, the Government responded in detail to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report. 32. Regarding Mr. Liu Zhengqing, he was disbarred in January 2019 by the Guangdong Provincial Department of Justice for remarks he made when acting as a defence counsel, which had endangered national security and constituted malicious slander against other people.
- Followup Trends 0
- Stayed same
- Did the government respond? 0
- Yes
- In which SG report was this case followed up on? 1
- 2021
- Follow up information provided in SG report 1
The case of human rights lawyer Mr. Liu Zhengqing, who had engaged with UN human rights mechanisms, was included in the 2020 and 2019 reports of the SecretaryGeneral108 on allegations of disbarment for that engagement (CHN 13/2011).109 During the reporting period, it was reported to OHCHR that Mr. Liu Zhengqing remained disbarred and therefore unable to engage in any work related to his legal profession
- Followup Trends 1
- Stayed same
- Did the government respond? 1
- No