Proposed amendment to Criminal Law just another way to restrict us, say Chinese lawyers
Restrictions on commenting about closed-door trials are covered by existing rules, and new ones could obstruct justice, lawyers say
Mainland lawyers and legal scholars have expressed concern over proposed restrictions on what lawyers can disclose about their cases as top lawmakers continued their week-long meeting in Beijing yesterday.
The bi-monthly meeting of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, which started on Monday, is reviewing draft amendments and revisions to new and existing laws, including the death penalty, counterespionage and anti-terrorism.
Lawmakers say the additions to the Criminal Law will "secure the right of people's courts to exercise judicial authority independently and justly". But lawyers say the changes will hamper justice.
The restrictions refer to three types of cases - juveniles, personal privacy and those involving state secrets - that are "privately tried" behind closed doors.
Lawyers say they will be banned from releasing information about the cases, which could result in more miscarriages of justice.
According to a draft amendment on "obstructing judicial administration", it would be a crime if defenders, appointed agents or other participants in a trial leak information that should not be known to the public" that which can result in mass media coverage or "other severe consequences" of trials under way.