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Chinese rights lawyer released after TV 'confession'

Wang Yu out of detention but 'remains under state control'
Chinese rights lawyer released after TV 'confession'
Published: August 02, 2016 06:36 AM GMT
Updated: August 02, 2016 06:37 AM GMT

A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer was released on bail on Aug. 1 but she's believed to be still under government control, reports China Aid.

Prior to her release, respected lawyer Wang Yu gave a television "confession," which is believed to have been forced said China Aid citing information provided by the China Human Rights Lawyer's Concern Group.

"The only message the video interview sends out is that when you are in detention in China, you could be put in front of the camera to confess any time the authorities want," Patrick Poon, China researcher for Amnesty International told The Wall Street Journal.

"It seems that the Chinese government wants to discredit all human rights lawyers and scare other lawyers away from taking human rights cases," Poon said.

Wang was arrested July 9, 2015 during a crackdown on civil rights activists and lawyers by authorities last year.

She was detained in a secret location for six months before formally being arrested Jan. 8 for "subverting state power," said China Aid.

Wang's husband, Bao Longjun, has also been arrested and remains detained while her teenage son was caught in Myanmar trying to flee to the US. He was returned to China and remains under constant government surveillance.

As a rights lawyer Wang represented Ilham Tohti, a respected Uighur intellectual, high profile feminists, Falun Gong practitioners and regular Chinese fighting official corruption.

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