9th July
The start of what observers say is an “unprecedented” crackdown on Chinese human rights lawyers. So far more than 230 people have been detained or interrogated
10th July
Boxing Road
Police Station
Daxing
district
20 miles
20 km
China
Beijing
Li Heping, one of China's best-known rights lawyers, is taken from his home in Beijing’s Daxing district at around 2pm
12th July
Li Heping’s wife, Wang Qiaoling, goes to their local police station on Boxing Road to officially report her husband missing and ask where he is. “The only response we got was, ‘I don’t know,’” she said
16th July
Cai Ying, a lawyer representing Li Heping, flies into Beijing from Changsha to begin searching for his missing client
17th July
Ma Lianshun, a second lawyer helping with the hunt, arrives in Beijing from Zhengzhou. That afternoon Ma travels to the Boxing Road police station where officers claim police from the nearby city of Tianjin took Li Heping. Police say they have no further information and no obligation to help find Li Heping.
Cai Ying travels to Tianjin where he visits two police stations and the Hexi Detention Centre. He also comes away empty handed.
Cai Ying and Ma Lianshun on one trip to a police station
24th July
Fearing for their safety, Li Heping’s wife sends the couple’s two children to stay with relatives in another part of China. “[When I took them to] the station, I couldn’t control my tears,” she said
27th July
With fears growing that Li Heping could be suffering torture, the two lawyers return to Tianjin with their client’s wife. Again their investigation is blocked
28th July
Activists report that Li Heping’s assistant, Zhao Wei, who also disappeared on July 10 – is being held at the Hexi Detention Centre in Tianjin. She had been missing for 18 days
Zhao Wei and her husband
1st August
At around 10pm police raid the home of Li Heping’s brother, Li Chunfu, seizing a computer, books and documents. He is also taken into custody. “Dad was taken away in handcuffs,” his 5-year-old son said, according to Li Heping’s wife
6th August
At around 11am police return to Li Heping's house. At around 2pm his wife is taken away for questioning but is released later that night. Activists say she is warned not to publicly discuss her husband’s plight
10th August
It is one month since Li Heping went missing and his whereabouts is still a mystery. “He will not be scared of prison or torture. But he must be worried about his family,” says Teng Biao, a friend and fellow lawyer
Li Heping
Boxing Road
Police Station
Daxing
district
20 miles
20 km
China
Beijing
16th July
12th July
27th July
17th July
10th July
9th July
10th August
1st August
28th July
6th August
24th July
Ma Lianshun, a second lawyer helping with the hunt, arrives in Beijing from Zhengzhou. That afternoon Ma travels to the Boxing Road police station where officers claim police from the nearby city of Tianjin took Li Heping. Police say they have no further information and no obligation to help find Li Heping.
Cai Ying travels to Tianjin where he visits two police stations and the Hexi Detention Centre. He also comes away empty handed.
Cai Ying, a lawyer representing Li Heping, flies into Beijing from Changsha to begin searching for his missing client
Li Heping’s wife, Wang Qiaoling, goes to their local police station on Boxing Road to officially report her husband missing and ask where he is. “The only response we got was, ‘I don’t know,’” she said
Li Heping, one of China's best-known rights lawyers, is taken from his home in Beijing’s Daxing district at around 2pm
The start of what observers say is an “unprecedented” crackdown on Chinese human rights lawyers. So far more than 230 people have been detained or interrogated
With fears growing that Li Heping could be suffering torture, the two lawyers return to Tianjin with their client’s wife. Again their investigation is blocked
Cai Ying and Ma Lianshun on one trip to a police station
It is one month since Li Heping went missing and his whereabouts is still a mystery. “He will not be scared of prison or torture. But he must be worried about his family,” says Teng Biao, a friend and fellow lawyer
At around 11am police return to Li Heping's house. At around 2pm his wife is taken away for questioning but is released later that night. Activists say she is warned not to publicly discuss her husband’s plight
At around 10pm police raid the home of Li Heping’s brother, Li Chunfu, seizing a computer, books and documents. He is also taken into custody. “Dad was taken away in handcuffs,” his 5-year-old son said, according to Li Heping’s wife
Activists report that Li Heping’s assistant, Zhao Wei, who also disappeared on July 10 – is being held at the Hexi Detention Centre in Tianjin. She had been missing for 18 days
Fearing for their safety, Li Heping’s wife sends the couple’s two children to stay with relatives in another part of China. “[When I took them to] the station, I couldn’t control my tears,” she said
Zhao Wei and her husband
Li Heping
Boxing Road
Police Station
Daxing
district
20 miles
20 km
China
Beijing
Ma Lianshun, a second lawyer helping with the hunt, arrives in Beijing from Zhengzhou. That afternoon Ma travels to the Boxing Road police station where officers claim police from the nearby city of Tianjin took Li Heping. Police say they have no further information and no obligation to help find Li Heping.
Cai Ying travels to Tianjin where he visits two police stations and the Hexi Detention Centre. He also comes away empty handed.
Cai Ying, a lawyer representing Li Heping, flies into Beijing from Changsha to begin searching for his missing client
16th
July
Li Heping’s wife, Wang Qiaoling, goes to their local police station on Boxing Road to officially report her husband missing and ask where he is. “The only response we got was, ‘I don’t know,’” she said
Li Heping, one of China's best-known rights lawyers, is taken from his home in Beijing’s Daxing district at around 2pm
The start of what observers say is an “unprecedented” crackdown on Chinese human rights lawyers. So far more than 230 people have been detained or interrogated
12th
July
With fears growing that Li Heping could be suffering torture, the two lawyers return to Tianjin with their client’s wife. Again their investigation is blocked
27th
July
17th
July
Cai Ying and Ma Lianshun on one trip to a police station
10th
July
9th
July
It is one month since Li Heping went missing and his whereabouts is still a mystery. “He will not be scared of prison or torture. But he must be worried about his family,” says Teng Biao, a friend and fellow lawyer
At around 11am police return to Li Heping's house. At around 2pm his wife is taken away for questioning but is released later that night. Activists say she is warned not to publicly discuss her husband’s plight
At around 10pm police raid the home of Li Heping’s brother, Li Chunfu, seizing a computer, books and documents. He is also taken into custody. “Dad was taken away in handcuffs,” his 5-year-old son said, according to Li Heping’s wife
Activists report that Li Heping’s assistant, Zhao Wei, who also disappeared on July 10 – is being held at the Hexi Detention Centre in Tianjin. She had been missing for 18 days
Fearing for their safety, Li Heping’s wife sends the couple’s two children to stay with relatives in another part of China. “[When I took them to] the station, I couldn’t control my tears,” she said
10th
August
1st
August
28th
July
6th
August
24th
July
Zhao Wei and her husband
Li Heping
Boxing Road
Police Station
Daxing
district
20 miles
20 km
China
Beijing
Ma Lianshun, a second lawyer helping with the hunt, arrives in Beijing from Zhengzhou. That afternoon Ma travels to the Boxing Road police station where officers claim police from the nearby city of Tianjin took Li Heping. Police say they have no further information and no obligation to help find Li Heping.
Cai Ying travels to Tianjin where he visits two police stations and the Hexi Detention Centre. He also comes away empty handed.
Cai Ying, a lawyer representing Li Heping, flies into Beijing from Changsha to begin searching for his missing client
16th July
Li Heping’s wife, Wang Qiaoling, goes to their local police station on Boxing Road to officially report her husband missing and ask where he is. “The only response we got was, ‘I don’t know,’” she said
Li Heping, one of China's best-known rights lawyers, is taken from his home in Beijing’s Daxing district at around 2pm
The start of what observers say is an “unprecedented” crackdown on Chinese human rights lawyers. So far more than 230 people have been detained or interrogated
12th July
With fears growing that Li Heping could be suffering torture, the two lawyers return to Tianjin with their client’s wife. Again their investigation is blocked
27th July
17th July
Cai Ying and Ma Lianshun on one trip to a police station
10th July
9th July
It is one month since Li Heping went missing and his whereabouts is still a mystery. “He will not be scared of prison or torture. But he must be worried about his family,” says Teng Biao, a friend and fellow lawyer
At around 11am police return to Li Heping's house. At around 2pm his wife is taken away for questioning but is released later that night. Activists say she is warned not to publicly discuss her husband’s plight
At around 10pm police raid the home of Li Heping’s brother, Li Chunfu, seizing a computer, books and documents. He is also taken into custody. “Dad was taken away in handcuffs,” his 5-year-old son said, according to Li Heping’s wife
Activists report that Li Heping’s assistant, Zhao Wei, who also disappeared on July 10 – is being held at the Hexi Detention Centre in Tianjin. She had been missing for 18 days
Fearing for their safety, Li Heping’s wife sends the couple’s two children to stay with relatives in another part of China. “[When I took them to] the station, I couldn’t control my tears,” she said
10th August
1st August
28th July
6th August
24th July
Li Heping
Zhao Wei and her husband