Since last July, over 300 lawyers, legal assistants, staff members of law firms and social activists have been detained and interrogated in a crackdown by the Communist party. Most have been released, but it emerged last week that some of those targeted have been arrested and are facing political subversion charges, which means they could spend the rest of their lives in jail. Others are still missing after being forcibly disappeared.

‘At risk of torture’

The signatories to the letter in The Guardian include former French justice minister Robert Badinter, top British human rights lawyers such as Baroness Helena Kennedy QC and Michael Mansfield QC and the former UN rapporteur on torture, Manfred Nowak. They write that: ‘None [of the 12 lawyers still being held] have so far been allowed access to counsel, friends or family,’ and fear that those still in custody are ‘at high risk of torture or other cruel and inhuman treatment’. They urged Mr Xi to prove China was a ‘respected global superpower’ by freeing the lawyers. Sources: The Guardian; Business Insider