The Right to Counsel in the Zion Case Faces Severe Challenges; Judicial Independence Has Disappeared

【Publication date】 March 30, 2026

【Issuing body】 Families of those involved in the Zion case and the Legal Rights Defense Observation Group

【Keywords】 Right to counsel / Release on bail / Medical humanitarian concerns / Judicial fairness

Core overview：Procedural justice has collapsed，and the right to counsel has been unlawfully deprived

【Zion Case - Beihai, Guangxi】 The six-month-long “Zion case” has now entered a critical turning point in its legal proceedings。As the investigation concludes、and the case is about to be transferred to the procuratorate，we are deeply concerned that the defense lawyer team is facing unprecedented obstacles to practicing their profession。Administrative interference has prevented several lawyers from performing their duties normally，leaving the 18 detained pastors almost without professional legal representation in the face of complex legal procedures。We hereby call for a return to the rule of law，respect for lawyers’ right to practice，and，on humanitarian grounds，the adoption of necessary changes to the coercive measures against co-workers who are ill。

I、 As the Investigation Concludes：Ensuring the Fairness of Interrogations

According to information available，the co-workers detained at the Beihai Detention Center underwent intensive “final interrogations” at the end of March。The case officers informed them that the case would soon be transferred for prosecution。The families and the observation group sincerely hope that：during the “window period” in which lawyers are not effectively involved，the relevant departments will strictly observe statutory procedures，eliminate the application of psychological pressure，and ensure the voluntariness and legality of every statement。Legal proceedings conducted without the presence of legal counsel are unlikely to withstand historical scrutiny as fair。

II、 Appeal for Attention：Call for Release on Bail on Humanitarian Grounds

As the case is about to be sent for prosecution，the families and the community are concerned not only with justice in the legal proceedings，but also with the physical and mental health of those in detention。The health conditions of the following co-workers are extremely worrying，and they urgently need medical intervention outside the detention center。We call on the relevant departments to approve their release on bail in accordance with the law：

● Wang Zhong： Previously underwent major heart surgery，and currently has severe blockages in two major arteries，posing a life-threatening risk at any time，and requires uninterrupted professional medical monitoring。

● An Mei： Previously underwent surgery for a thyroid tumor，and is highly susceptible to a recurrence of the condition as a result of environmental stress during the recovery period，making long-term detention in a high-pressure environment inadvisable。

● Jin Mingri： Has suffered from diabetes for a long time，and under detention and dietary restrictions，his blood sugar fluctuates dramatically，making professional monitoring urgently necessary to prevent irreversible organ damage。

● Yin Huibin：Suffers from severe lumbar disc herniation and is sometimes unable to stand for extended periods。His teeth have recently become loose，and he has pain in his leg joints，requiring examination and treatment。

● Zhange：Has a family history of cardiovascular disease and poor blood circulation。One side of the body has severe numbness and soreness。A comprehensive examination and treatment are urgently needed。

III、Systematic Professional Purge：The Power Behind the Large-Scale “Termination Wave”

Lawyers are the cornerstone of the rule of law，but the Zion case’s legal team is currently facing systematic professional difficulties：

1. Law firm subjected to “collective punishment” retaliation：Beijing Kaimen Law Firm，the main provider of legal assistance，is facing “administrative silencing” ：the justice bureau is coercing it to “deregister the law firm voluntarily”，otherwise there will be “consequences at its own risk”。After being restricted from leaving the country at the end of last year，lawyer Zhang Kai，the person in charge，has also had his practicing license revoked，while several lawyers have been suspended for six months，leaving all Zion case matters handled by the firm in a state of having “no lawyers”。

2. List of penalized lawyers：

○ First round of restrictions： Zhang Kai（license revoked）、Deng Qinggao（penalized）、Yang Yaohua（suspended）、Li Chunfu（suspended）、Ge Xianyang（suspended）、Liu Anqiang（suspended）、Tang Xianlong（suspended）。

○ Second round of restrictions： Zhao Qingshan（suspended for six months）。

3. Burden of coerced terminations：Through meetings and other forms of coercion，the judicial authorities have pressured lawyers to：1）withdraw from Kaimen Law Firm；2）terminate their agreements to defend those in the Zion case。This directly infringes on the defendants’ lawful right to counsel。

○ Affected defense lawyers and clients： Zeng Yue（Jin Mingri）、Zhou Fangyu（Wu Qiuyu）、Feng Xinyu（Zhange）、Zhang Yifan（Sun Cong）、Ding Junjie（Liu Zhenbin）、Zhang Yuefei（Lin Shucheng）、Wei Jingmin（Wang Cong）、Zhang Yuhan（Li Shengjuan）。

○The coercion is continuing。。。

IV、Solemn Statement and Call for Global Action：

In the face of this judicial frame-up in which people “do whatever they want in a dark room with the lights turned off！”，the families and concerned groups issue the following solemn position：

1. Strongly condemn administrative interference in the judiciary：We demand the immediate cessation of administrative pressure on defense lawyers，the restoration of the practicing qualifications of the relevant lawyers，and the guarantee of the 18 pastors’ right to choose their own lawyers。

2. Hold law enforcement officials accountable：Any public official who undermines judicial procedures or intimidates defense lawyers will be nailed to the pillar of historical disgrace。We reserve the right to submit evidence to supervisory authorities and international human rights organizations。

3. Launch global emergency attention：We urge governments、parliaments、and human rights institutions in all countries to use diplomatic channels，and lodge solemn representations concerning the systematic deprivation of the right to counsel by China’s judicial system。

4. Protect life and safety：We reiterate our respect for the right to life of ill detainees，and call on the case-handling authorities to put people first and promptly release the co-workers who urgently need treatment。

5. Record and feedback：The families of those involved in the Zion case are collecting information in accordance with the law concerning violations in judicial proceedings。Those with knowledge may provide feedback to：hpcc109@gmail.com

“We firmly believe that the original purpose of the law is to uphold justice and compassion。Under the light，all the truth will ultimately come to light。”