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Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers Highlights the Case of Liu Xiaobo

Date: 2009-07-02

In a letter sent to Premier Wen Jiabao today, the Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers urged the Chinese government to investigate interference in lawyer Mo Shaoping’s practice of law. The Committee acted on reports that Mr. Mo’s right to effectively represent his client, Dr. Liu Xiaobo, was being denied, Mr. Mo was told that he could not represent his client, who was arrested on “suspicion of incitement to subvert state power,” because his name had been found in one of Dr. Liu’s files. Mr. Mo has said he will challenge the directive. The Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers requested an immediate investigation and urged Premier Wen to ensure that Dr. Liu receive full and effective access to counsel, in compliance with China’s obligations under both Chinese and international law. The Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers is housed at the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School. It is a group of independent lawyers from outside China whose goal is to support lawyers in China in their quest to strengthen the rule of law there.