Human rights lawyer Lu Siwei — known for defending activists and dissidents in politically sensitive cases — has been arrested in China. After being detained by Laotian authorities and extradited to the mainland under contentious circumstances in July 2023, Lu now once again finds himself in the crosshairs of Chinese law enforcement.
The case has drawn international attention, with activists and human rights organizations like Amnesty International condemning his detention as part of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) broader crackdown on human rights’ defenders.
A thorn on the CCP’s side
Lu rose to prominence after he defended 12 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists who were intercepted by Chinese coast guards while attempting to flee to Taiwan in 2020. For this, Lu was stripped of his legal license by Chinese authorities in 2021 as he joined a growing list of lawyers targeted for their involvement in sensitive political cases. His disbarment was widely criticized as an example of China silencing legal professionals who challenge the government’s narrative.
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China: Human Rights Lawyer Lu Siwei Detained Amid Escalating Crackdown on Dissidents
