{"id":226909,"date":"2021-01-04T16:21:18","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T00:21:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/?p=226909"},"modified":"2021-01-05T23:38:36","modified_gmt":"2021-01-06T07:38:36","slug":"human-rights-lawyers-face-debarment-for-involvement-in-politically-sensitive-cases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2021\/01\/human-rights-lawyers-face-debarment-for-involvement-in-politically-sensitive-cases\/","title":{"rendered":"Human Rights Lawyers Face Debarment for Involvement in Politically Sensitive Cases"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chinese government has moved to strip two human rights lawyers of their licenses to practice, following their involvement in legal cases against citizen journalist Zhang Zhan<\/a> and the 12 Hong Kong activists caught fleeing the city in 2020<\/a>. The lawyers, Lu Siwei and Ren Quanniu, received letters on January 4 informing them of plans to revoke their licenses. Hong Kong Free Press’ Rhoda Kwan reported on the notices delivered to the two lawyers:<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

In a letter informing Lu of administrative punishment proceedings against him released Monday, the Sichuan province\u2019s Department of Justice accused him of \u201cpublishing inappropriate speech online.\u201d<\/p>\n

[\u2026] \u201cUpon investigation, this department found that you have published inappropriate speech online on multiple occasions \u2013 the considerable length of time with a vast number of posts have seriously harmed the image of the lawyer profession and caused a negative impact upon society,\u201d the notice read.<\/p>\n

[\u2026] Later on Monday, Ren also received a similar notice from authorities informing him of their intention to revoke his licence. Ren had represented citizen journalist Zhang Zhan who was jailed for four years last week for her coverage of the Wuhan Covid-19 outbreak. In a notice from the Henan province\u2019s Department of Justice, authorities cited alleged wrongdoing from 2018.<\/p>\n

According to mainland Chinese law, both lawyers are entitled to provide a statement and file a defence. They required to officially request for a hearing within three days, at the end of which they will be deemed to have given up the right to plead their cases. [Source<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The timing of the letters is noteworthy, coming shortly after both of the politically sensitive cases concluded last week. In the case of the Hong Kong 12, Lu and Ren were in fact barred from representing the defendants, who were instead assigned government-appointed lawyers. The New York Times’ Austin Ramzy reported that a family members of the 12 decried the debarring of the lawyers as state-sponsored retaliation<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n

Mr. Lu and Mr. Ren were each given three days to arrange hearings over their licenses, but Mr. Ren said he had little hope of a successful appeal.<\/p>\n

A group representing family members of the activists said they believed the timing of the actions against the two lawyers indicated that they were \u201cobviously revenge for their involvement\u201d in the Hong Kong case.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor their daring to go against the powers that be, and persistence in upholding the rights of the twelve, the authorities have resorted to ending their professional career and cutting off their livelihoods,\u201d the families said in a statement. [Source<\/strong><\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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A second lawyer who helped the families of the #12HKyouths<\/a> has now been told he will lose his licence. The families are urging the people of #HongKong<\/a> to support the lawyers, to help protect them from the "oppression by mainland authorities". Full story: https:\/\/t.co\/ptKAcpcL2k<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/a6BEPcxIje<\/a><\/p>\n

— RTHK English News (@rthk_enews) January 4, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n