Chinese woman unable to visit husband in jail as ‘marriage certificate does not prove marriage’

Chinese prison officials refused a woman permission to visit her husband in jail until she provided additional proof that they were married after refusing to accept their official marriage certificate.

The woman from the city of Wuhu, in Anhui province, was told by the prison she needed apply for an extra household registration testimony, issued by her local police department, if she wanted to visit her husband, the Anhui Commercial News reported.

A policeman, with the surname of Wang, who provided the woman with the testimony, attached a note, addressed to the prison, which said: “Dear officer, a marriage certificate is the most legal-binding document issued by civil affairs departments to prove a marriage.

“We find it puzzling to be asked to provide additional proof of the woman’s marriage, by issuing the testimony according to her household registration information.

“Your prison is really far from Wuhu, so why make the inmate’s wife travel back and forth during the hot summer?”

The newspaper report did not name the prison that had demanded such proof.