Lawyers calling for reform of laojiao system_美文

Lawyers calling for reform of laojiao system

He said it would be ideal if any measure that could be used to deprive a person of his freedom, such as detention, be subject to judicial review. For now, though, it's more realistic to try to reform the laojiao system than abolish it.

Neither of the ministries that received the letter had released a statement about it by Wednesday night. China Daily's interview request to the Research Society of Laojiao, under the Ministry of Justice, went unanswered.

The letter came amid a storm of criticism that arose after the mother of a rape victim was made to undergo laojiao for repeatedly petitioning authorities.

Tang Hui, 39, was accused of "seriously disturbing the social order and exerting a negative impact on society" and sent on Aug 2 to a laojiao center in Hunan province's Yongzhou to serve an 18-month sentence.

Tang had accused the city police of falsifying evidence in order to reduce the sentences handed down to those who were responsible for the kidnap, rape and forced prostitution of her daughter, who was 11 years old when the crimes occurred.

The mother was released on Friday out of consideration for the fact that "her 17-year-old daughter is still a minor and requires her mother's care," according to a provincial publicity department statement.

The case outraged the public and prompted more than 700,000 posts on Sina Weibo, a popular micro-blogging service in China. Most of the messages expressed sympathy for her and called for justice to be served.