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Human rights in China
ChinaPolitics

Freed lawyer Tang Jingling vows to continue fight for human rights, democracy in China

  • After spending five years in prison for inciting subversion, the 48-year-old has returned to his hometown and says the jail time confirmed his beliefs
  • He was jailed along with two other activists after distributing books and printed materials on grass-roots pro-democracy campaigning

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Human rights lawyer Tang Jingling returned to his hometown in Jingzhou, Hubei province on Monday evening after he was released from jail. Photo: Twitter
Mimi Lau
Lawyer Tang Jingling, who was released from jail on Monday after serving a five-year term for inciting subversion, has vowed to continue his fight for human rights and democracy in China through non-violent civil disobedience.
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In an interview with the South China Morning Post on Tuesday, Tang said he stood by his beliefs about advancing democracy in the country.

“My imprisonment has confirmed my beliefs that [building] a democratic society that values human rights is the only way to prevent tragedies, such as what happened to me, from happening again to other people,” Tang said. “I believe [democracy] is still the way to go [for China] – where every citizen can stand up for their rights.

“For people who advocate for democracy, they should come forward and help others in every possible way they can, especially [for those] who desperately need help,” he added.

Tang, 48, returned to his hometown in Jingzhou, Hubei province on Monday evening after he was freed from Sihui Prison in Zhaoqing, Guangdong in the morning. He was sentenced to five years’ jail for inciting subversion of state power by a Guangzhou court in 2016.
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Villagers face off with riot police in Taishi during a dispute over illegal land seizures in 2005. Tang Jingling lost his lawyer’s licence after representing villagers in the case. Photo: AFP
Villagers face off with riot police in Taishi during a dispute over illegal land seizures in 2005. Tang Jingling lost his lawyer’s licence after representing villagers in the case. Photo: AFP

A prominent human rights lawyer, Tang has spent more than two decades advocating non-violent civil disobedience to push for democracy in China. He lost his lawyer’s licence in 2006 after representing villagers in Taishi of Panyu district, Guangdong in their fight against illegal land seizures.

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