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<p>Lu Siwei, a Chinese rights lawyer has been arrested in Laos while attempting to board a train for Thailand. Lu, whose lawyer licence was stripped for taking on sensitive cases may now be deported to China where he could face prison time, activists and family members fear.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I’m extremely worried for his safety. If he’s sent back to China, he’d definitely be imprisoned,” Zhang Chunxiao, Lu's wife was quoted as saying by<em>&nbsp;The Associated Press</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lu was stripped of his legal licence in 2021 for representing a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist who attempted to flee to Taiwan. Later in the same year, he was barred from leaving the mainland and an exit ban was placed on him when he was to visit the US for a visiting fellowship.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While defending the activist was probably the last straw, Lu had already written himself into the bad books of Politburo when he defended rights lawyer and Xi Jinping critic Yu Wensheng.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yu was charged with inciting subversion of state power after a letter calling for democratic reforms in 2018.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-chinas-full-time-children-617193"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: China's full-time children</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>Beijing's far-reaching influence&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Ever since coming under the scanner, Lu has&nbsp;been separated from his wife and daughter, who both resettled in the US last year. Lu's family recently contacted Bob Fy, founder of Texas-based religious rights group ChinaAid, to assist the lawyer escape from China.</p>

<p>According to Bob, Lu had valid visas for the US and Laos but the arrest on foreign soil exemplifies how ferociously Beijing pursues critics, even abroad.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-police-detain-activists-artists-on-eve-of-34th-anniversary-of-tiananmen-crackdown-600191" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Over 20 pro-democracy figures detained on Tiananmen Square massacre anniversary in Hong Kong</strong></a></p>

<p>“This clearly shows the long arm of China beyond its borders to control and arrest those travelling overseas,” Fu said. “It’s very chilling.</p>

<p>After Fu's arrest, Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders took to Twitter and demanded early release of him from the Laotian authorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Very disturbed by reports that Chinese HRD &amp; lawyer Lu Siwei was arrested in #Laos today as he boarded a train to Bangkok to fly to the US &amp; reunite with his family. The Laotian authorities must immediately disclose his whereabouts &amp; release him," she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Very disturbed by reports that Chinese HRD &amp; lawyer Lu Siwei was arrested in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Laos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Laos</a> today as he boarded a train to Bangkok to fly to the US &amp; reunite with his family. The Laotian authorities must immediately disclose his whereabouts &amp; release him.<a href="https://twitter.com/LaosAtUN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LaosAtUN</a><a href="https://t.co/McrVH1gEzX">https://t.co/McrVH1gEzX</a></p>
— Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs (@MaryLawlorhrds) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryLawlorhrds/status/1685018385472495616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Under Xi Jinping, there has been a heavy clampdown on the legal rights of citizens. In 2015, over a&nbsp;hundred activists and rights lawyers were arrested in what was later termed the&nbsp;“709 crackdown” – named after July 9, the day it was launched.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Lu Siwei, a Chinese rights lawyer has been arrested in Laos while attempting to board a train for Thailand. Lu, whose lawyer licence was stripped for taking on sensitive cases may now be deported to China where he could face prison time, activists and family members fear.

Lu Siwei, a Chinese rights lawyer has been arrested in Laos while attempting to board a train for Thailand. Lu, whose lawyer licence was stripped for taking on sensitive cases may now be deported to China where he could face prison time, activists and family members fear. “I’m extremely worried for his safety. If he’s sent back to China, he’d definitely be imprisoned,” Zhang Chunxiao, Lu's wife was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. Lu was stripped of his legal licence in 2021 for representing a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist who attempted to flee to Taiwan. Later in the same year, he was barred from leaving the mainland and an exit ban was placed on him when he was to visit the US for a visiting fellowship. While defending the activist was probably the last straw, Lu had already written himself into the bad books of Politburo when he defended rights lawyer and Xi Jinping critic Yu Wensheng. Yu was charged with inciting subversion of state power after a letter calling for democratic reforms in 2018. Watch | Gravitas: China's full-time children × Beijing's far-reaching influence Ever since coming under the scanner, Lu has been separated from his wife and daughter, who both resettled in the US last year. Lu's family recently contacted Bob Fy, founder of Texas-based religious rights group ChinaAid, to assist the lawyer escape from China. According to Bob, Lu had valid visas for the US and Laos but the arrest on foreign soil exemplifies how ferociously Beijing pursues critics, even abroad. Also read | Over 20 pro-democracy figures detained on Tiananmen Square massacre anniversary in Hong Kong “This clearly shows the long arm of China beyond its borders to control and arrest those travelling overseas,” Fu said. “It’s very chilling. After Fu's arrest, Mary Lawlor, UN special rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders took to Twitter and demanded early release of him from the Laotian authorities. "Very disturbed by reports that Chinese HRD & lawyer Lu Siwei was arrested in #Laos today as he boarded a train to Bangkok to fly to the US & reunite with his family. The Laotian authorities must immediately disclose his whereabouts & release him," she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Very disturbed by reports that Chinese HRD & lawyer Lu Siwei was arrested in #Laos today as he boarded a train to Bangkok to fly to the US & reunite with his family. The Laotian authorities must immediately disclose his whereabouts & release him.@LaosAtUNhttps://t.co/McrVH1gEzX — Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs (@MaryLawlorhrds) July 28, 2023 × Under Xi Jinping, there has been a heavy clampdown on the legal rights of citizens. In 2015, over a hundred activists and rights lawyers were arrested in what was later termed the “709 crackdown” – named after July 9, the day it was launched. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Human rights lawyer fleeing China arrested in Laos, could be deported

<p>In an attempt to silence one of China's most prominent human rights lawyers, a court has secretly sentenced Yu Wensheng for four years, his wife claimed.</p>

<p>The lawyers' wife said that she received a call from the prosecutor’s office in Xuzhou city in the eastern province of Jiangsu, informing her that the sentencing was announced behind closed doors early on Wednesday, reported The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-charges-two-detained-canadians-with-suspected-espionage-307071">China charges two detained Canadians with suspected espionage</a></strong></p>

<p>The city court also deprived Yu of his political rights, which means he is barred from holding any public position or publishing and speaking publicly for three years.</p>

<p><strong>Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-sees-china-as-main-suspect-in-state-based-cyberattacks-says-report-307077">Australia sees China as main suspect in state-based cyberattacks, says report</a></strong></p>

<p>Yu is known as one of the most outspoken critics of the Chinese administration and has constantly highlighted politically sensitive issues despite the country's measures to stifle dissent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A day after Yu, in an online post demanded the removal of Chinese President Xi Jinping and called for reforms in the country's legal and political system, he was detained by the police in January 2018 in Beijing and was later charged with inciting subversion of state power.</p>

<p>Yu was put into trial in 2019 secretly and his family has no knowledge about it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During his detention of more than two years, the activist was not allowed to meet his lawyer or family and there were major concerns of torture during custody.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UN working group also demanded in April last year that he should be released.</p>

<p>"He can’t accept this outcome. He would appeal," his wife said, demanding his unconditional release.</p>

<p>Yu, three months before his detention too, said that under Xi's rule, China has marched "backwards" and demanded his resignation. &nbsp;</p>


In an attempt to silence one of China's most prominent human rights lawyers, a court has secretly sentenced Yu Wensheng for four years, his wife claimed. The lawyers' wife said that she received a call from the prosecutor’s office in Xuzhou city in the eastern province of Jiangsu, informing her that the sentencing was announced behind closed doors early on Wednesday, reported The Guardian.

In an attempt to silence one of China's most prominent human rights lawyers, a court has secretly sentenced Yu Wensheng for four years, his wife claimed. The lawyers' wife said that she received a call from the prosecutor’s office in Xuzhou city in the eastern province of Jiangsu, informing her that the sentencing was announced behind closed doors early on Wednesday, reported The Guardian. Also read | China charges two detained Canadians with suspected espionage The city court also deprived Yu of his political rights, which means he is barred from holding any public position or publishing and speaking publicly for three years. Also read | Australia sees China as main suspect in state-based cyberattacks, says report Yu is known as one of the most outspoken critics of the Chinese administration and has constantly highlighted politically sensitive issues despite the country's measures to stifle dissent. A day after Yu, in an online post demanded the removal of Chinese President Xi Jinping and called for reforms in the country's legal and political system, he was detained by the police in January 2018 in Beijing and was later charged with inciting subversion of state power. Yu was put into trial in 2019 secretly and his family has no knowledge about it. During his detention of more than two years, the activist was not allowed to meet his lawyer or family and there were major concerns of torture during custody. The UN working group also demanded in April last year that he should be released. "He can’t accept this outcome. He would appeal," his wife said, demanding his unconditional release. Yu, three months before his detention too, said that under Xi's rule, China has marched "backwards" and demanded his resignation.

China: Prominent human rights lawyer jailed for four years, says wife

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Human rights lawyer fleeing China arrested in Laos, could be deported

China: Prominent human rights lawyer jailed for four years, says wife