Lawyers in lockdown

GlobalPost
Updated on
The World

(Hong Kong) — Xu Zhiyong doesn’t sound or look like a dissident. He speaks of citizenship and society, of politics, progress and hope. The Chinese version of Esquire features a cover photo of him this month, under the headline “Chinese Dream.”

As one of the country’s most prominent rights lawyers, he has worked with, not against the system, carving a niche as independent, public-interest advocate.

Or at least that’s how it seemed. At 5 a.m. last Wednesday morning, Xu was led away from his Beijing apartment complex by police. He has not been seen since.

His arrest, without charge, comes just two weeks after a lawyer’s group he co-founded, the Open Constitution Initiative, or Gongmeng, was shuttered. Officials said they owed Rmb 1.46 million, or about $200,000, in taxes.

Xu’s disappearance seems to confirm what many suspected — this is not just about tax...

Editor's note: This article is available to members of GlobalPost Passport. Click to continue reading if you are a Passport member.

 This article is available to Passport members. If you are not a member, take advantage of Passport's summer sale. For two dollars a week, you’ll get exclusive in-depth reporting, direct access to our foreign correspondents, and a voice in the topics that Passport covers. Support GlobalPost by becoming a member of our inner circle. Join Passport’s innovative community today.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.