CHINA-DISSENT: CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER ZHANG XUEZHONG DETAINED FOR POSTING OPEN LETTER ON INTERNET TO NPC DEPUTIES CALLING FOR REFORM

43-year old Zhang Xuezhong, a Shanghai-based Chinese Constitutional lawyer, was taken away by public security authorities on May 10 after he posted an 'open' letter on WeChat on May 9 addressed to all NPC Deputies calling for reforms and freedom of speech. He said that in the absence of a modern constitution, China’s governance was very backward, and “the outbreak and spread of the Covid-19 epidemic is a good illustration of the problem”. Zhang Xuezhong called on the NPC Deputies to convert the legislature into a “transitional authority” to create a broadly representative committee empowered to draft a constitution conforming to “modern political principles”. He also urged the NPC to make resolutions to immediately release all political prisoners, end bans on political parties and non-state media, and enshrine that no political party should enjoy the status of a national public service institution. His letter, posted on May 9, was widely circulated online. In his WeChat post, Zhang Xuezhong wrote alongside his attached letter: “The best way to fight for freedom of expression is for everyone to speak as if we already have freedom of speech.”





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