Charges Against Chinese Rights Lawyers Draw Foreign Criticism

The recent arrests of Chinese lawyers and their associates on subversion charges drew sharp condemnation from presidents of foreign bar associations, prominent lawyers and former judges in a letter issued on Monday. They said the charges were part of an “unprecedented crackdown” on Chinese advocates who take up contentious human rights cases. “You have repeatedly stated that ‘China is a country ruled by law,’ ” reads the public letter, which is addressed to the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. “Yet the events just described appear entirely contrary to those commitments.” Read more