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Wives and advocates of detained rights lawyers mount a peaceful protest in support of the detainees on Monday. The buckets are covered in messages of support. Photo: SCMP Pictures

China releases wives and defenders of detained lawyers in Tianjin

Eight people were held by authorities after peaceful demonstration

Tianjin authorities released on Tuesday eight protesters detained after they mounted a peaceful demonstration on Monday in support of four lawyers held since an unprecedented crackdown on rights advocates and activists last year.

The eight – three wives, a volunteer and four legal representatives of detained lawyers Li Heping, Wang Quanzhang, Ge Ping and Zhai Yanmin – had protested outside the office of the second division of the Tianjin Municipal Procuratorate and the Tianjin Second Intermediate People’s Court.

They held up red buckets with messages of support but were summoned by police shortly after the protest began.

They were all released by lunchtime on Tuesday.

What China’s crackdown on lawyers says about authorities’ fear of burgeoning rights defence movement

More than290 lawyers and their legal assistants were taken away in a sweeping crackdown on rights lawyers and activists in July.

In a joint statement on Monday, the advocates for the lawyers detained last year said: “It’s been 11 months and we are here demanding a meeting with our clients but there is no sign of Tianjin police handling the cases according to the rule of law.”

“Our rights as defence lawyers have been violently stolen,” it said.

Wang Quanxiu, the sister of Wang Quanzhang who was charged with subversion of state power, criticised police for taking away the peaceful demonstrators on Monday.

“Taking away anyone as you please – is there any law left in this nation?” she said.

“On whose orders do you trample on justice?”

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What China’s crackdown on lawyers says about authorities’ fear of burgeoning rights defence movement

On whose orders do you trample on justice?
Wang Quanxiu
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