Vocal Chinese lawyer who supported others during rights crackdown taken away by Beijing police
Officers prise open locks on Yu Wensheng's home at midnight, seize his computer and lead him away in handcuffs, his wife says
A Chinese lawyer who spoke up on behalf of rights lawyers persecuted by authorities was himself taken away by the police in handcuffs, his wife said Friday.
The police came just before midnight Thursday and prised open locks to the door at Yu Wensheng’s Beijing apartment and stormed in, his wife Xu Yan said. The officers took him away in handcuffs and confiscated his computer, flash drives and other digital storage units, Xu said.
Beijing police did not respond to a faxed request seeking confirmation.
Xu said her husband was summoned on suspicion of causing troubles, although he was yet to be formally detained.
Beijing has detained about two dozen rights-defender lawyers since early July, accusing them of being part of a criminal gang that sabotaged the legal system, but critics say the lawyers are being punished for their insistence the law be followed faithfully and the government held accountable.
Hundreds of lawyers across the country have been told not to speak up for those in police custody, but Yu ignored the warnings and spoke to foreign media.