Tang Jitian
Tang Jitian 唐吉田 | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 1, 1969 Jilin |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Occupation | Attorney |
Tang Jitian (Chinese: 唐吉田) is a human rights lawyer in the People's Republic of China. Based in Beijing, he is a prominent figure in the Weiquan (rights defending) movement, and has defended victims of illegal land requisitions, Falun Gong adherents, HIV/AIDS victims, and other vulnerable groups, including fellow human rights lawyers.[1]
Due to the politically sensitive nature of Tang’s cases, he has met with reprisals from Chinese authorities. In 2010, he was permanently disbarred, though he has continued his rights advocacy.[2] He has been placed under house arrest, and detained on several occasions.[1][3]
Legal career and advocacy
Tang Jitian was born in Yanji, Jilin province in northeast China in 1969. He began his legal career in Guangdong province in 2005, and subsequently relocated to Beijing to work with the Anhui Law Firm. There, he has taken on a variety of human rights causes, including representing petitioners subjected to reeducation through labor camps, victims of forced eviction, parents of children poisoned by melamine-tainted milk, religious minorities, and others. Tang was also a signatory of Charter 08.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Committee to Support Chinese Lawyers, Tang Jitian. Accessed 05-18-2012.
- ^ Wong, Edward, "2 Chinese Lawyers Are Facing Disbarment for Defending Falun Gong," New York Times, 21 April 2012.
- ^ Human Rights Watch, China: Free Unlawfully Detained Legal Activists, Relatives, 22 February 2011.