(Beijing) The Chinese government’s crackdown on human rights lawyers continues. Now, the Communist Party shifts its suppression toward their children by hindering educational prospects. The education rights of Wang Quanzhang’s son were stripped away, and he is now unable to attend school.
Discrimination
Lawyer Wang Quanzhang lost his freedom during a nationwide crackdown operation in July 2015. Authorities revoked his legal license and arbitrarily detained him. Since his release, he has been forced to move more than 10 times in Beijing. During the new school year in China, his child Quan Quan went to two different schools for a short period. After passing an interview, a written test, and paying the fees, the second school rejected him the same.
Unmasked suppression
Wang Quanzhang posted about the situation on his social media. “We originally thought that under the support of public opinion, the unlawful forces would somewhat restrain themselves,” he wrote. “But we were wrong. Unlawful elements are lurking around us like spirits, and they have even targeted our child. Our child is being deprived of his education again!”
No Explanation
Wang specifically named the school in question. “Beijing Xin Fuxue International Academy, which claims to uphold the motto of ‘Moral Excellence, East-West Versatility,’ rejected us when my child was supposed to start school that same afternoon. This school, without any hesitation, rejected us without considering our feelings or providing any explanation.”
Constant monitoring
Li Wenzu, Wang’s wife, hoped that after spending a carefree two-month summer vacation with her child in their hometown in Hubei, they could return to Beijing and live a peaceful life.
However, their residence continues to be surrounded the clock by a group of government-hired plainclothes personnel. Plainclothes individuals were stationed at the entrance, staircases, and street corners, severely disrupting their normal lives as Chinese citizens.
Similar case
Another prominent human rights lawyer, Li Heping’s daughter, was forced to drop out of school due to unbearable pressure from the authorities. Beijing authorities violently evicted Li Heping and his wife multiple times. Whenever the couple settles in a new place, they are promptly forced to move again. After being compelled to leave Beijing, the turmoil and stress made it impossible for their daughter to concentrate. She attended school for a week but couldn’t cope. She had no choice but to temporarily drop out.
709 Crackdown
Wang Quanzhang is a well-known human rights lawyer in China and one of the main victims of the 709 crackdown. He and his wife have long suffered from severe persecution by the Beijing authorities, having no place to settle down, and their minor child has been implicated and forced to stay out of school.
~Gao Zhensai, Special Correspondent of ChinaAid
