Last updated:
A court in China sentenced prominent human rights lawyer Xie Yang to five years in prison on March 23, 2026, on charges of "inciting subversion of state power" — charges Human Rights Watch says are politically motivated and follow years of persecution, torture, and procedural violations. HRW is calling for Xie's immediate and unconditional release and for his conviction to be quashed.
A Career Under Siege
Xie Yang has been one of China's most well-known human rights lawyers, representing activists, religious minorities, and political dissidents before his own persecution began. He was first detained in July 2015 as part of the mass crackdown on lawyers and legal activists known internationally as the "709 Crackdown," in which Chinese authorities detained more than 300 lawyers, law firm staff, and activists. During his initial detention, Xie Yang alleged that he was subjected to torture, including sleep deprivation, stress positions, and psychological pressure — accounts later corroborated by detailed testimony made public.
WeChat Posts as Criminal Evidence
The Changsha Intermediate People's Court cited several of Xie Yang's WeChat posts as the primary basis for the March 23 verdict. The court also ordered the confiscation of 100,000 yuan (approximately US$14,500). His former wife, Chen Guiqiu — herself a well-known advocate for detained lawyers — announced the verdict on social media from exile abroad, as she had been forced to flee China with their children following years of harassment.
The Chinese authorities' prosecution of Xie Yang and the court's harsh sentence reflects Beijing's utter contempt for the rule of law. Using WeChat posts as evidence of subversion shows just how far the government will go to silence lawyers who dare to defend their clients' rights.
Maya Wang, Deputy Asia Director, Human Rights Watch
A Pattern of Targeting Rights Lawyers
Xie Yang's sentencing is part of a continuing crackdown on independent lawyers in China that has intensified since 2015. According to HRW and the Chinese Human Rights Defenders network, dozens of lawyers arrested in the 709 Crackdown have been sentenced, forced to abandon their practices, or driven into exile. The Chinese Bar Association has been used as a tool to revoke licences of lawyers who take on sensitive cases. The international legal community has repeatedly condemned these tactics as incompatible with China's obligations under international human rights law.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Need an expert witness report for your case?
Our country experts provide independent reports for asylum and immigration cases in the UK, US, Canada, and EU.
Order an expert witness report |
Find a country expert witness |
About our expert team
