Amnesty International Calls for Inquiry on China's '709' Crackdown Anniversary

Marking a somber milestone, Amnesty International is urging an independent international probe as they commemorate the 10th anniversary of China's '709' crackdown against human rights lawyers and activists. This plea seeks to highlight the ongoing and systematic oppression of civil liberties under Chinese governance.

Initiated on July 9, 2015, the crackdown was a major turning point, signaling Beijing's intensified campaign against human rights and rule of law. According to Sarah Brooks, Amnesty's China Director, the crackdown triggered a decade of relentless persecution and wrongful prosecution of dedicated attorneys and advocates.

Since taking power, President Xi Jinping's administration has widened its net of repression, leading to the arrest of over 300 lawyers, with many subjected to arbitrary detention and torture. Amnesty's report underscores the plight of lawyers who defended constitutional rights and marginalized groups, facing severe penalties under the "residential surveillance at a designated location" system.

Families of detained lawyers endure collective punishment through surveillance and social exclusion, Amnesty said. The severity of repression is evident with lawyers Ding Jiaxi and Xu Zhiyong receiving harsh sentences for alleged subversion of state power. The international community's muted response has drawn criticism from Amnesty, which insists on renewed global efforts to uphold human rights and legal freedoms in China.

Despite various declarations by governments and the UN, Beijing remains dismissive of calls to release detained lawyers. Amnesty calls for the UN Human Rights Council to implement a continuous monitoring mechanism, urging nations to advocate vehemently for the justice and rights of the wrongfully imprisoned legal professionals worldwide.

(With inputs from agencies.)