— China Aid reports: “On July 17, Chinese authorities shut down a legal research center a week after revoking the licenses of more than 50 lawyers in Beijing. Several of the center’s founders and lawyers are part of ChinaAid’s Legal Defense Team, which helps persecuted house church Christians. Some of the Legal Defense Team members include Dr. Teng Biao, Attorney Zhang Xingshui and Attorney Li Heping.”
— “According to Radio Free Asia, 20 officials from Beijing’s Civil Affairs Bureau arrived at the Open Constitution Initiative (Gongmeng) legal center, questioned employees and confiscated computers. The authorities claimed that the center had not paid taxes, which the center denies. The center was fined 1.4 million yuan ($200,000 USD), and shut down two days later.”
— “Open Constitution Initiative researches public welfare and offers legal aid, and has represented many human rights victims in cases against the Chinese government. Attorneys from Open Constitution Initiative claim that the closure of the legal center is ‘purely a crackdown and retaliation with political motives.'”