This is a bit complicated. Law can absolutely be used to persecute people.

For example, there once was so-called Bill of Attainder, which basically meant that a certain person was labeled as an outlaw, traitor, and handled as such.

It was an actual law, voted on by the Parliament, but even though usage of Bills of Attainder was perfectly consistent with rule of law, it was not that different from a classical Stalinist show trial in effect.

This is also why Bills of Attainder are banned by the US Constitution.

And by contrast it is America which which has the civil forfeiture practices.