The European External Action Service spokesperson called on Tuesday 9 July, 4 years to the day after the '709 crackdown', for the immediate release of all human rights lawyers and human rights defenders still in prison.
In a statement, the spokesperson also called on the Chinese authorities to lift restrictions on those who have been released and to release all other lawyers and legal activists detained or persecuted by the authorities for their work before and since the crackdown.
In addition, according to the spokesperson, in many trials following the '709 crackdown', the accused were denied a proper defence, 'in violation of international law', and the hearings were held behind closed doors. "There are also extensive and credible reports of mistreatment during detention, and grounds for believing that several confessions were forced", the spokesperson said.
The '709 crackdown' is a major police operation that, in July 2015, led to the arrest of 300 human rights lawyers, jurists and human rights defenders.
Overall, the EU expects China to abide by its international law obligations, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to respect the rights of all citizens as guaranteed by China’s Constitution. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)