Letter on the alleged enforced disappearance of Gao Zhisheng
21 april 2021

Letter on the alleged enforced disappearance of Gao Zhisheng

China

In a joint letter Lawyers for Lawyers and The Law Society of England and Wales express their concern about the alleged enforced disappearance of lawyer Gao Zhisheng. Gao Zhisheng has taken on cases concerning religious minorities, freedom of expression, forced evictions, and corruption. Since 2017, Gao Zhisheng’s whereabouts are unknown.

Gao Zhisheng was first served a prison sentence from 2006 to 2009 for ‘inciting to subvert state power’, during which he was disappeared multiple times. In 2009 he was released and spoke about the torture he had suffered during his detention and was subsequently disappeared again in 2010. In 2011, Mr. Gao was accused of having violated the terms of his probation and was sent back to prison. In 2014, he was released, but only three years later, in 2017, Mr. Gao was allegedly disappeared again. To date, his whereabouts remain unknown.

In 2020, the Chinese authorities stated that public security authorities have ‘not carried out any coercive measures against him’ since Mr. Gao’s release in 2014. Lawyers for Lawyers and The Law Society of England and Wales note with concern that it is unclear from this response whether Mr. Gao’s case remains open and what progress the Chinese authorities are making to identify his whereabouts and ensure his physical and psychological integrity.

Lawyers for Lawyers and The Law Society of England and Wales further note that they regard it as unlikely that Mr. Gao disappeared on his own accord and that the Chinese authorities have not taken further coercive measures against Mr. Gao since 2014. According to our information, Mr. Gao has not been in contact with any of his family members or his legal representatives since his most recent disappearance.

In the letter, the Chinese authorities are urged to identify and disclose the whereabouts of Gao Zhisheng and immediately release him to the extent that he is being held by state authorities. Insofar as Mr. Gao is still being held, Lawyers for Lawyers and The Law Society of England and Wales urge the authorities to grant Mr. Gao access to his legal representatives and respect fair trial guarantees.

We will continue to monitor the situation of Gao Zhisheng, as well as that of other lawyers in China.

Meer nieuws uit China

2 augustus 2023

NGOs Call on Governments & Lao Authorities to Ensure the Immediate Release of Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Lu Siwei

China

Lao authorities have reportedly arrested and detained well-known Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei since 28 July 2023. We are gravely concerned that he is at serious risk of forced repatriation to China where he faces the high likelihood of

Lees verder
31 juli 2023

UPR Submission China & Hong Kong

China

On 18 July 2023, Lawyers for Lawyers jointly submitted a report for the fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of China, including Hong Kong. The next UPR of China will take place in January 2024. The UPR’s key concern is China’s

Lees verder
10 juli 2023

‘709 Crackdown 2.0’: Global call against China’s renewed crackdown on human rights lawyers

China

Lawyers for Lawyers, joined by a large group of international organisations, Bar Associations, legal scholars, and Chinese human rights defenders, calls for urgent global attention to the new wave of repression against Chinese human rights lawyers in a joint statement.

Lees verder
9 juli 2023

The 709-Crackdown, the alarming state of lawyers’ rights in China and Hong Kong, and a new wave of repression

China

Today, 9 July 2023, marks the 8th anniversary of a nationwide campaign using criminal laws and executive controlled courts to silence lawyers and other human rights activists through arbitrary arrests, detentions, convictions, and imprisonment. Starting on 9 July 2015 the

Lees verder