China releases wives and defenders of detained lawyers in Tianjin
Eight people were held by authorities after peaceful demonstration
Tianjin authorities released on Tuesday eight protesters detained after they mounted a peaceful demonstration on Monday in support of four lawyers held since an unprecedented crackdown on rights advocates and activists last year.
The eight – three wives, a volunteer and four legal representatives of detained lawyers Li Heping, Wang Quanzhang, Ge Ping and Zhai Yanmin – had protested outside the office of the second division of the Tianjin Municipal Procuratorate and the Tianjin Second Intermediate People’s Court.
They held up red buckets with messages of support but were summoned by police shortly after the protest began.
They were all released by lunchtime on Tuesday.
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More than290 lawyers and their legal assistants were taken away in a sweeping crackdown on rights lawyers and activists in July.
