WASHINGTON, July 10 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Today, ChinaAid president Bob Fu will speak during a roundtable hosted by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) regarding the recent crackdown on human rights attorneys in China.
Some lawyers have lost their licenses or have been refused renewal of their licenses. Others have been arrested, beaten and tortured for practicing normal legal defense work. In his speech, Bob Fu will present the personal statements of seven lawyers and also an open letter to the Ministry of Justice written by 31 Chinese intellectuals.
Bob Fu will also present a petition with 100,000 signatures representing concerned citizens in the U.S. and around the world who are asking for the immediate release of Gao Zhisheng, a Christian human rights attorney, who was kidnapped February 4, 2009 by Chinese security agents. Gao, along with many of the other attorneys targeted by the government, have been working with ChinaAid's legal defense efforts for religious freedom cases.
The roundtable, entitled "China's Human Rights Lawyers: Current Challenges and Prospects" will be held on Friday, July 10 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628.
Find out more information and about the CECC roundtable.
Read Bob Fu's speech to the CECC.
Read the seven lawyer's statements submitted to the CECC:
Li Fangping
Zhang Kai and Li Fuchun
Jiang Tianyong
Tang Jitian
Li Xiongbing
Wen Haibo
Read an "Open Letter to the Ministry of Justice in Protest Against the Illegal Persecution of Human Rights Attorneys by Beijing Lawyers Association" written by 31 Chinese intellectuals.
Sign the online petition for Gao Zhisheng's immediate release at www.FreeGao.com.
ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. Please contact: Katherine@ChinaAid.org with questions or requests for further information.
