In response to the recent crackdown against China’s human rights lawyers, the New York City Bar Association has sent a letter to China’s Ministry of Justice expressing its “grave concern with respect to reports over the past several weeks that lawyers in various parts of China have been harassed, beaten, and detained at the hands of agents of the government.” The letter documents the recent upswing in the physical abuse of lawyers, including an in-court beating of eight defense lawyers by court officers in Harbin City, during which pregnant lawyer Liu Guiying sustained injuries severe enough to force her to terminate her pregnancy; and the savage beating of Guangzhou-based lawyer Liu Shihui, as he waited for a bus that would allegedly proceed to the location of a demonstration. Additionally, the letter urges the Ministy to investigate the five lawyers recently seized and held in secret detention: Jiang Tianyong, Teng Biao, Tang Jitian, Tang Jingling, and Li Tiantian.
Since the City Bar’s letter was released, the Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers has learned that Tang Jitian has been released from detention, after suffering serious abuse and torture at the hands of his captors.
In response to the recent crackdown against China’s human rights lawyers, the New York City Bar Association has sent a letter to China’s Ministry of Justice expressing its “grave concern with respect to reports over the past several weeks that lawyers in various parts of China have been harassed, beaten, and detained at the hands of agents of the government.” The letter documents the recent upswing in the physical abuse of lawyers, including an in-court beating of eight defense lawyers by court officers in Harbin City, during which pregnant lawyer Liu Guiying sustained injuries severe enough to force her to terminate her pregnancy; and the savage beating ofGuangzhou-based lawyer Liu Shihui, as he waited for a bus that would allegedly proceed to the location of a demonstration. Additionally, the letter urges the Ministy to investigate the five lawyers recently seized and held in secret detention: Jiang Tianyong, Teng Biao, Tang Jitian, Tang Jingling, and Li Tiantian.
Since the City Bar’s letter was released, the Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers has learned that Tang Jitian has been released from detention, after suffering serious abuse and torture at the hands of his captors.