China must immediately release all lawyers detained for carrying out their professional functions or for exercising their human rights, the ICJ said in a letter today to President Xi Jinping.
The letter describes a number of arrests and detentions credibly reported by newsmedia and non-governmental organizations over the past several months. Other lawyers had their professional license to practice revoked.
“These lawyers appear to have been arrested solely for trying to do their job, or exercising their freedoms of expression and assembly, on matters the Chinese government considers politically sensitive,” said Matt Pollard, Head of the ICJ’s Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.
“All lawyers detained in such circumstances should be released and allowed to get on with their work,” he added.
“The multiple reports of arbitrary arrests and other interference with human rights lawyers in violation of international standards is a serious challenge to China’s claim that it is committed to the rule of law,” Pollard said.
Many of the arrests and revocations appear to have been part of a broader attempt to suppress events to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown, the ICJ notes.
Contact:
Matt Pollard, Senior Legal Adviser, Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, e matt.pollard(a)icj.org
Background
Lawyer Chang Boyang (photo) was reportedly arrested in late May when he sought to meet clients being held at a local police station. The clients were being detained on suspicion of “gathering in a public place to disturb public order”, apparently as a result of taking part in a memorial tribute on February 2 for former Chinese leaders Hu Yaobang and Zhao Ziyang. When Chang Boyang arrived at the police station to meet them, he was reportedly also detained for “gathering in a public place to disturb public order”, in the absence of any evidence that he was even present at the event. The charges were apparently subsequently changed, with little explanation, in early July to “suspicion of illegal commercial activities”. He remains in custody.
Lawyer Pu Zhiqiang was reportedly taken into criminal custody on 6 May 2014, three days after attending a private commemoration event. He was held without charge until 13 June, when he was formally charged with “creating a disturbance” and “illegally obtaining personal information”. While in custody, he was not provided prompt and necessary medical treatment and an early release on medical bail. He remains in custody.
