Zhang Xuezhong | |||||||
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| Born | 1976 (age 47–48) | ||||||
| Occupation(s) | human rights lawyer, academic | ||||||
| Years active | 2000–present | ||||||
| Known for | defending Chinese constitutionalism | ||||||
| Notable work | New Common Sense | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 张雪忠 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 張雪忠 | ||||||
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| Weiquan lawyers |
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Zhang Xuezhong (simplified Chinese: 张雪忠; traditional Chinese: 張雪忠; pinyin: Zhāng Xuězhōng; born 1976) is a Chinese academic of constitutional law and a human rights lawyer. He was a lecturer at the East China University of Political Science and Law from 2001 to 2013. Prior to his dismissal from the institution, he was known for calling for constitutionalism and giving more meaningful effect to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China's guarantees of human rights. In his capacity as a human rights lawyer he has defended members of the New Citizens' Movement.
Zhang was also one of the academics who revealed the "seven banned subjects" that may not be taught in Chinese universities. Zhang thinks that one-party rule in China is on an illegal footing and has also called for the cessation of teaching of Marxism in universities.
In May 2020 Zhang issued an open letter criticising the government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak and calling for freedom of speech. Soon after he was taken into custody by police.[1]