On June 21st, 2024, in the 1st courtroom of the Wuchang District Court in Wuhan, the trial of activist Song Ze took place. Song Ze, whose real name is Song Guangqiang, was born in 1986 and graduated from the Zhongnan University of Economics and Law with a degree in Political Economics. After working in basic jobs for two years, he began participating in civil movements.
Around 6 p.m. on August 14th, 2023, Song Ze was arrested by a group of police officers from Wuhan and Shanghai, although he was not engaged in any activities at the time. He was taken to Wuhan Detention Center that same night and has been detained there for nearly a year.
During the trial, Song Ze remained silent throughout the proceedings, refusing to answer any questions. At the end of the trial, he handed a pre-written note to the judge through a guard, but the contents of the note were not disclosed.
Song Ze’s defense lawyer, Yang Cheng, presented arguments of innocence and engaged in debates with the prosecutor on key issues such as “provocation” and “providing computer services.”
Song Ze’s mother was present in the courtroom but was seated far away from him. During the trial, Song Ze glanced back at his mother several times.
After the trial concluded, Song Ze was swiftly taken away in a long black car.
Regarding his arrest, Song Ze’s friends expressed ignorance about the reasons behind it. Ms. Shen Yanqiu from Shanghai, a friend of Song Ze, mentioned, “I have no idea why Song Ze was arrested. To attend the trial, I bought a train ticket to Wuhan on the morning of the 20th to be there by 8:30 p.m. that same day. However, as I was leaving my community in the evening, plainclothes officers took me to the police station for tea, prohibited me from attending the trial in Wuhan, warned me not to go, and asked me to return my ticket.”
Due to the upcoming Third Plenary Session next month, tensions are rising, and authorities are taking steps to control the situation, obstructing any interference for the sake of their reputation and achievements.
Currently under restriction in Dandong, Liaoning Province, Jiang Jiawen mentioned, “I can’t go to Wuhan. I’m currently confined in my hometown, and when I tried to purchase a flight ticket online yesterday, the police showed up, preventing me from going anywhere.”
“I hold Song Ze in high regard. He is a young and talented individual with exceptional networking skills. We never discussed our personal matters when we were together. I know he was involved in some online work, interacted with different people, and provided networking technology services online. His involvement with Xu Zhiyong, Ding Jiaxi, and providing networking technology online has been mentioned. However, everyone knows he has not committed any illegal acts, so it seems that they are fabricating charges against him.”
The courtroom was heavily guarded by law enforcement personnel on the day of the trial, with a significant presence of police officers, traffic police, plainclothes officers, and guards. Before the trial, Yang Cheng stepped outside the courthouse to smoke, followed by three law enforcement officers.
This recent development has raised concerns among Song Ze’s acquaintances and supporters, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by activists in voicing their opinions and participating in civil movements.