Case Background
Born in 1974 in Shandong Province, Huang Jinqiu is an internet essayist, writer, and journalist. A graduate of Beijing’s respected Lu Xun Literature Institute and the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom, his talents were well-recognized beginning at an early age. Since age 18, Huang worked as a journalist and editor of several newspapers and magazines, including YangCheng WanBao, a famous daily newspaper in Guangdong. His first book was published at age 20.
After winning a scholarship to study journalism, Huang relocated to Malaysia in 2000 to attend the Central Academy of Art. While abroad, he wrote under the pen name Qing Shuijun (“Mr. Clear Water”) for dissident Chinese-language news web site, Boxun, which operates out of the United States. He also wrote about arts and entertainment under the name Huang Jin. His essays and posts made him well known in the Chinese internet community and resulted in the publication of two volumes: the first containing non-political material under his real name, and the second containing political material, printed under his pen name for security reasons.
In January 2003, he wrote about his intent to form a new opposition party, the China Patriot Democracy Party in his online column. In August, he returned to China, and in September 2003, Chinese authorities detained and held him incommunicado until January 2004 when his family was finally notified of his arrest. In September 2004, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for “subversion of state authority.” His appeal was rejected in December 2004.
Reports received in February 2005 indicated that Huang was transferred from Changzhou Detention Center in Jiangsu Province to Pukou Prison near Nanjing City, where he was a victim of routine ill treatment. Sources suggest the abuse to be so severe that Huang was at risk of a mental breakdown. Additionally, he was denied books and was held with criminals who were encouraged by prison authorities to mistreat him. In July 2007, the Dui Hua Foundation reported that his sentence had been reduced by 22 months.
On October 20, 2011, Huang Jinqiu was released from Pukou Prison in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, after serving eight years of his originally 12-year sentence. Huang postponed the announcement of his release until December 13, 2011, his new scheduled release date, after threats to his family. He has been living with his parents in Linyi County, Shandong Province.
According to Human Rights in China, Huang has said that he “will continue to push for social progress in China with compassion and that he believes that China will progress. Huang is grateful to everyone who has shown concern for his case, and particularly to those who have shown their love and provided help to him and his family during his imprisonment.”