Shandong: Human rights lawyer denied renewal of license
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(Qingdao, Shandong, July 30, 2007) – The Shandong Provincial Bureau of Judicial Affairs rejected Li Jianqiang’s application for renewing his license for practicing law in June 2007, the month for the annual renewal of lawyers’ licenses in China. Mr. Li has represented writers, journalists, and organizers of opposition parties in court in recent years, including the writer Yang Tianshui, poet Li Hong, activist/artist Yan Zhengxue, and dissident Chi Jianwei. The Shandong authorities did not provide any explanation, oral or written, for this decision. According to Mr. Li, this lack of written decision makes it difficult for him to appeal.
Li Jianqiang (李建强), pen name Liu Lu（刘路）, a graduate from Chinese Literature Department of People’s University and the Economics Department of Chinese University of Politics and Law. He has held a variety of positions: teacher of a middle school, reporter, and lawyer. Mr. Li began his literature writing in 1986 and was forced to resigned from his work unit because of his screen play “The Falling Sun” and “The Blooming White Flower on the Chest” which were based on the history about the 1989 student pro-democracy movement. He started his criminal lawyer career in 1994. His license was revoked by the authorities in November 2003, which reinstated later. He has served as a legal council for the Independent Chinese PEN. (/Article/Class9/Class13/200608/20060808234127_1835.html
