The families of the lawyers sought permission to see them, meet with their defense lawyers and express their support.

On July 9, 2015, the Chinese authorities launched a campaign against human rights defenders during which, in a little over 48 hours, more than 300 lawyers and activists were arrested, detained or interrogated.

Of those, more than 20 people remain in the hands of the police and at unknown locations.

The prosecution formally accused the lawyers of subversion of state power in January, when they were already six months under custody; however, their trial is yet to be held.

The European Union and other countries such as the United States have expressed their concern over the detention of these lawyers and human rights defenders.