Six attorneys representing three participants in the New Citizens Movement were harassed and beaten by a mob of 200 to 300 men after leaving court on Wednesday. Prominent human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang said he believed that the attackers were government-hired thugs.
The three defendants were charged with illegal assembly and “using an evil cult to undermine the law” on account of their efforts to encourage Chinese government officials to publicly disclose their assets. If convicted, the defendants face up to ten years in jail.