(Zhenxiong, Yunnan Province – November 28, 2023) After two rounds of return for review and further investigations, the case against preacher Chang Hao has been transferred to Zhenxiong County People’s Court for prosecution under the charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. The Procuratorate accused him of “repeatedly publishing and forwarding false information and inappropriate remarks on the Internet, causing severe disturbance to public order and causing very negative social impact”. However, Chang Hao did not acknowledge the charges brought by the public security organs and the Procuratorate. He insisted on not pleading not guilty. Before he was arrested, he often talked about citizen’s freedom of speech, and the right to criticize and advise any state organs and their staff.
Chang Hao is a house church preacher. Due to his Christian belief and long-term advocacy for social justice issues, he has been interrogated by the police several times. On the evening of April 14, 2023, Chang Hao was taken away by Zhenxiong Public Security Bureau on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. The Holy Bible, spiritual books, and gospel masks in his home were confiscated. There was no information about Chang Hao for a long time. Over 4 months later, his lawyer was finally able to meet him after submitting several visitation requests. Chang Hao has a physical disability and nearsightedness, but he is not allowed to wear glasses in the detention center. Therefore, Chang Hao’s life inside is very inconvenient, leading to high blood sugar and high blood pressure. For this reason, the lawyer has repeatedly reported Chang Hao’s situation to the prosecutor, hoping that the detention center will safeguard his rights, including the right to religious belief. The request of releasing Chang Hao on bail pending trial was also denied by the prosecutor.
On November 22, Chang Hao’s family issued an open prayer letter, calling on everyone to continue paying attention to Chang Hao’s case. The prayer letter states:
“Since being taken away by the police on April 14, Chang Hao has been deprived of his freedom for more than 7 months. October 12 (lunar calendar) is Chang Hao’s birthday, and he is about to spend his 45th birthday in the detention center. Chang Hao suffers from a physical disability, and his wife Yao Fazhen is also in poor health, with hyperthyroidism and lumbar disc herniation. Doctor suggested her to seek medical treatment in big hospitals in Kunming as soon as possible. Chang Hao’s mother is already 86 years old, and she longs for Chang Hao’s release. Her legs and feet are not in good condition, and she needs someone to take care of her. We all hope that Chang Hao will return home soon. We hope that even if the court cannot release Chang Hao immediately without any guilt, it can release him on bail pending trial.”
The indictment of Zhenxiong County People’s Procuratorate is as follows:
Chang Hao, suspected of the crime of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, was criminally detained by the Zhenxiong County Public Security Bureau on April 15, 2023. Our court approved his arrest on May 15, and Zhenxiong County Public Security Bureau executed the arrest on the same day. He is currently detained in Zhenxiong County Detention Center.
Zhenxiong County Public Security Bureau conducted the investigation and transferred the defendant Chang Hao’s case to our court for prosecution on May 22 on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. After accepting the case, our court informed the defendant of the right to entrust a defense lawyer and the legal consequences of pleading guilty. The defendant was questioned according to the law, and the opinions of the defendant and the defense lawyer were heard, and all the case materials were reviewed. Due to unclear facts and insufficient evidence, our court returned the case to Zhenxiong County Public Security Bureau for further investigation on June 29 and September 8 of 2023. On July 24 and October 8 of the same year, Zhenxiong County Public Security Bureau re-submitted the case to our court with additional findings. Due to the complexity of the case, our court extended the deadline for reviewing and prosecuting the case for 15 days on June 21 and once again on August 24. The case has now concluded its review.
Through thorough investigation, it is ascertained that from October 2022 to April 2023, Chang Hao repeatedly published and forwarded false information and made inappropriate remarks on the Internet, causing severe disturbance to public order and very negative social impact.
The evidence for establishing the above facts includes:
- Written decision of case-filing and other documentary evidence;
- Electronic data;
- Physical evidence of an Apple iPhone 11;
- Defendant’s confession and defense, etc.
Our court believes that the defendant Chang Hao, by spreading false information on the Internet, causing severe disorder to public order and very negative social impact, has violated Article 293, Item 1 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China. The facts of the crime are clear, the evidence is sufficient, and criminal responsibility should be pursued for the crime of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”. In accordance with Article 176 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China, a public prosecution is initiated, and it is requested to be prosecuted according to the law.
