Fujian human rights defender Xiang Jinfeng, sentenced to 4 years, released after completing his sentence on August 28, 2026
On August 31, 2026, this outlet learned that Xiang Jinfeng, a Fujian human rights defender sentenced to 4 years, was released after completing his sentence on August 28, 2026. Xiang Jinfeng was criminally detained on August 29, 2022, and was later sentenced to 4 years before the 2024 Spring Festival. He subsequently served his sentence at Yong'an Prison. Xiang Jinfeng was released after completing his sentence on August 28, 2026.
Xiang Jinfeng's profile: Fujian rights defender. Xiang Jinfeng has long helped and paid attention to rights defense efforts by disadvantaged groups. He was taken away for questioning by local domestic security police in October 2017 and April 2018, reportedly because political sensitive topics were often discussed in the WeChat group he created, and because of his attention to citizens' rights defense. On May 17, 2019, Xiang Jinfeng was barred from leaving the country by customs at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, and his passport was cut up. Xiang Jinfeng was also summoned for questioning by police in his jurisdiction for two consecutive days, June 3 and 4, 2019, mainly regarding his online statements about “June Fourth.” Afterward, the “Feng Hua Xue Yue group” to which Xiang Jinfeng belonged was shut down.
Xiang Jinfeng was criminally detained on August 29, 2022, and held at the Liancheng County Detention Center in his hometown of Longyan City, on unspecified charges, possibly related to his online statements. His parents did not receive a detention notice; they only went to the Pengkou Town police station to sign documents. He was sentenced to 4 years before the 2024 Spring Festival, subsequently served his sentence at Yong'an Prison, and was released after completing his sentence on August 28, 2026.


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