UN rights chief raises concerns with China over crackdown
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The U.N. human rights chief says he has raised concerns with Chinese authorities over a crackdown against lawyers, advocacy groups and government critics in recent months.
Zeid Raad al-Hussein says there is a "worrying pattern" in China for civil society and notes that states have a duty to protect lawyers, journalists and members of non-governmental organizations.
The office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement Tuesday that police have detained about 250 human rights lawyers, legal assistants and activists since a "nationwide crackdown" began in July, though many have since been released.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Zeid also expressed concern about recent disappearances of booksellers from Hong Kong, and noted that leading human rights lawyers Li Heping and Wang Yu are among those facing a "subversion of state power" charge.