Fujian dissidents released from prison, authorities maintain stability among other visitors

On March 23, 2025, in Fujian Province’s Fuqing City, dissident He Zongwang, who was sentenced to one year and three months for allegedly assaulting a police officer during the detention over the sudden death of petitioner Ye Zhong, has been released from prison today. The local authorities in Fuqing have started stabilizing other petitioners in the past few days to avoid any welcoming activities for He Zongwang.

According to rights activist Xiao Cheng from Fuqing, “Because He Zongwang is being released, many people in Fuzhou and Fuqing have been warned not to engage in any activities. Some have been summoned for questioning a couple of days ago, some were taken out for a trip today, like hiking and other activities. My phone is being monitored, so I didn’t go to meet him upon his release.”

Petitioner Tang Zhaoxing from Fuqing was blocked from leaving his residence by several burly men sitting outside his door. He expressed helplessness in recounting his unjust case and criticized the authorities.

Petitioner known as “Renhai Fushen” stated, “I was summoned by the public security for a tea session last Friday, they talked about supporting the government and loving the party. So, they pre-warned him (not to confront the government).”

Mr. Lin from Fuqing told the reporter from The Epoch Times, “Two days ago, the police called me, saying He Zongwang is going to be released, asking if we have any activities planned in the next two days. I said I don’t know, I have nothing planned.” “There was no one to pick up He Zongwang upon his release today, and we still don’t know about his situation.”

Xiao Cheng stated that the authorities intend to isolate He Zongwang.

On September 12, 2023, the fifth anniversary of the “912 Firecracker Incident” in Fuzhou, He Zongwang, one of the involved parties, organized a gathering where petitioner Ye Zhong also attended. Following the gathering, all attendees were taken away by the police, with most being released the next day, except for Ye Zhong, who was detained and later tragically passed away while in custody.

On December 8, 2023, He Zongwang was taken into administrative detention for 15 days by the Fuqing police after receiving a call from Ye Zhong’s wife, Li Meiying, discussing Ye Zhong’s death. He was subsequently charged with assaulting a police officer and placed in criminal detention. He was arrested on January 4, 2024, prosecuted on February 21 for assaulting a police officer, and sentenced to one year and three months in prison on April 22.

The “912 Firecracker Incident” occurred in 2018 when He Zongwang and over thirty petitioners went to welcome rights defender Yan Xingsheng upon his release from the Fuzhou Detention Center. They set off firecrackers to dispel bad luck, leading to the arrest of over a hundred police officers. Many individuals were sentenced, and the incident became known as the “912 Firecracker Incident.”