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Wang Quanzhang: China human rights lawyer trial begins | Wang Quanzhang: China human rights lawyer trial begins |
(about 3 hours later) | |
China has placed a prominent human rights lawyer on trial for subversion. | China has placed a prominent human rights lawyer on trial for subversion. |
Wang Quanzhang went missing in a crackdown on hundreds of lawyers and activists in 2015, and is one of the last to be tried or released. | |
He defended political campaigners and followers of the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong, and worked with a Swedish human rights activist. | He defended political campaigners and followers of the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong, and worked with a Swedish human rights activist. |
There is tight security outside the court, with several supporters being bundled away by police. | |
Mr Wang's wife Li Wenzu, who has not seen him since he disappeared in 2015, says police have surrounded her home in Beijing, preventing her from attending the trial. | Mr Wang's wife Li Wenzu, who has not seen him since he disappeared in 2015, says police have surrounded her home in Beijing, preventing her from attending the trial. |
Journalists and foreign diplomats have also been barred from entering the courthouse in the northern city of Tianjin. | Journalists and foreign diplomats have also been barred from entering the courthouse in the northern city of Tianjin. |
Some activists gathered outside the court, shouting slogans or holding up signs supporting Mr Wang, before being pulled away from the scene by security officials. | Some activists gathered outside the court, shouting slogans or holding up signs supporting Mr Wang, before being pulled away from the scene by security officials. |
Mr Wang is accused of subverting state power. Court documents say he worked with Swedish activist Peter Dahlin and others to "train hostile forces". | Mr Wang is accused of subverting state power. Court documents say he worked with Swedish activist Peter Dahlin and others to "train hostile forces". |
Mr Dahlin, who worked in a legal aid organisation, was detained in China in January for three weeks, before being deported. | Mr Dahlin, who worked in a legal aid organisation, was detained in China in January for three weeks, before being deported. |
On Wednesday, he said he had kept all the documents related to Mr Wang's work with his organisation, and would "release anything needed to dispel that it constitutes subverting state power". | On Wednesday, he said he had kept all the documents related to Mr Wang's work with his organisation, and would "release anything needed to dispel that it constitutes subverting state power". |
Amnesty International researcher Doriane Lau said the scheduling of the trial, on 26 December, appeared to be a "deliberate" decision by the Chinese authorities. | Amnesty International researcher Doriane Lau said the scheduling of the trial, on 26 December, appeared to be a "deliberate" decision by the Chinese authorities. |
"Obviously a big part of the world will be having a holiday and will not be able to respond," she told AFP. | "Obviously a big part of the world will be having a holiday and will not be able to respond," she told AFP. |
China's crackdown on lawyers, known as the "709" crackdown because it began on 9 July, is seen by activists as a sign of a growing intolerance of dissent under President Xi Jinping. | China's crackdown on lawyers, known as the "709" crackdown because it began on 9 July, is seen by activists as a sign of a growing intolerance of dissent under President Xi Jinping. |
More than 200 were detained, with many given jail terms, suspended sentences or house arrest. | More than 200 were detained, with many given jail terms, suspended sentences or house arrest. |
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