The European Union on Monday (Dec. 21) called on China to release imprisoned human rights lawyer Li Yuxuan and other human rights defenders.
Rights lawyer Li Yuxuan was taken away by the Shenyang Public Security Bureau’s Heping Branch in October 2017 and has been detained ever since. She has represented a number of sensitive cases over the years and was also the defense lawyer for Wang Yu, the first Beijing-based human rights lawyer to be arrested in the 709 mass arrest case.
Ms. Li has now been detained for more than three years,” a spokeswoman for the European Union’s External Affairs Service (EEAS) said in a statement. Credible sources indicate that Ms. Li has been tortured and ill-treated during her detention and that she has not received adequate medical assistance. During her detention, her health has seriously deteriorated.”
The statement added that the EU calls for the immediate release of Li Yuxuan and other detained and convicted human rights lawyers, as well as other human rights defenders, including Yu Wensheng, Huang Qi, Ilham Tohti and Zaxi Wensai.
The EU also expects China to ensure full respect for the rule of law and to thoroughly investigate all reported cases of arbitrary detention, ill-treatment and torture of human rights defenders and their families.
China’s human rights problems have been highly publicized and criticized by the international community. A UN human rights expert last week also slammed China for its crackdown on human rights defenders and lawyers.
Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, expressed dismay at the treatment of human rights defenders and lawyers in China, adding that they have been accused, detained and even tortured since China began cracking down on such professions five years ago under the pretext of national security.
She also cited the recent arrest of human rights defender Chang Wei-ping, who she said demonstrates the Chinese government’s continued crackdown on lawyers who are outspoken about the deteriorating human rights situation in China.
I respect and understand the importance of maintaining national security, and every government has that right,” Lawler said. However, national security should not be maintained at the expense of the lives, livelihoods and human rights of its citizens. Neither basic human rights nor the individuals who defend those rights threaten any government or society. I urge the Chinese Communist authorities to immediately release Chang Wei Ping and all other detained and disappeared human rights defenders.”
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