The presumption of innocence does not exist under Xi Jinping's dictatorship—in its place stands a presumption of guilt. Once the Chinese Communist Party targets someone, no evidence is needed, no defense is allowed. A fabricated charge is enough to trigger secret detention, public shaming through state media, and forced confessions aired on CCTV—followed by a scripted verdict from a courtroom that merely performs what has already been decided. A blatant act of political persecution is thus dressed up in the hollow costume of "judicial procedure".