China's Crackdown on Human Rights Lawyers Intensifies

The Chinese government has imprisoned a human rights lawyer found guilty of 'subverting state power" even as several others are still missing.

One year ago, government officials arrested or questioned more than 300 attorneys and human right advocates. Zhai Yanmin was the first to be placed on trial.

On Tuesday, a court handed down a thee-year suspended sentence for Zhai and ordered him to be placed under house arrest.

Zhai worked for the Fengrui law firm of Tianjin, China. Seventeen of their lawyers have been missing since July 2015. The law firm handled a number of high-profile human rights and religious freedom cases.

Among the missing is top human rights attorney Li Heping, who has not been heard of since July 2015 when he was taken into custody by Chinese security police.

His young daughter, Li Jiamei, has not hugged him for nearly a year. Jiamei's mother, Wang Qiao Ling, is a devout Christian who looks to the Bible for peace.

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who has been called according to his purpose," Ling said, quoting from Paul's Epistle to the Romans.

Displaying a toy shield and sword, little Jiamei said she misses her father and wants to "rescue my dad." 

China Aid President Bob Fu says Beijing's human rights crackdown is a result of Chinese government anxiety.

"It reflects the top political leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, especially even President Xi Jinping. They are increasingly nervous about the political and economic instability and insecurity," Fu explained. 

Facing growing international outrage over the crackdown, China's state-run media went on the offensive, accusing Western journalists and governments of "interfering" with the Chinese laws.

In September, the G20 Summit will be held in China's Hebei province. Many foreign diplomats plan to address the human rights issue with Chinese government officials.