Xue Mingkai (薛明凯)
Comments Off on Xue Mingkai (薛明凯)
Xue Mingkai 薛明凯
(Released)
Recent Detention
Crime: Inciting subversion of state power
Length of Punishment: 4 years in prison (reduced to 30 months on appeal), plus 2 years of deprivation of political rights
Court: Jinan City Intermediate Court
Trial date: February 2012
Sentencing date: February 2012
Dates of Detention/Arrest: February 26, 2011 (detained); March 16, 2011 (arrest); September 15, 2013 (released)
Place of Detention: Shandong Provincial No. 1 Prison (Jinan City, Shandong Province)
Appeal Sentencing Date: April 2013
Appeal Sentencing Court: Jinan City Intermediate Court
Appeal Ruling: 30 months in prison plus 2 years of deprivation of political rights
Background
Seized in February 2011 as part of the “Jasmine Crackdown,” Hangzhou activist Xue Mingkai, born on October 8, 1989, was formally arrested for “inciting subversion of state power”but later reportedly convicted of “subversion” and sentenced to four years in prison. Details of Xue’s case, including specific dates of arrest and trial as well as any evidence that led to his conviction, remain unknown. There is speculation that Xue’s case may be tied to a public letter he co-authored about the suspicious death of Zhejiang activist and village director Qian Yunhui (钱云会), which called on Chinese people to stand up for democracy.
Authorities have repeatedly refused to allow Xue’s mother to visit him in detention. She has been beaten and also was seized by authorities in April 2011 for petitioning over Xue’s 18-month previous sentence (served from May 2009 to November 2010, also for “subversion”). A migrant worker living in Shenzhen at that time, Xue was charged with the crime after allegedly helping plan to organize a political party called the “China Democratic Workers’ Party” in the summer of 2006, and then contacting and joining an overseas democracy organization in early 2009.
Xue was released on September 15, 2013, after completing his prison term. However, National security officers restricted his freedom to travel as they forcibly returned him to Shandong when Xue attempted to search for his missing parents.
Further Information
Submission to UN – Communiqué on behalf of Xue Mingkai, citizen of People’s Republic of China, Alleging Arbitrary Arrest or Detention and Violation of Freedom of Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, July 14, 2011, CHRD
Individuals Affected by Crackdown Following Call for “Jasmine Revolution”