Chinese crackdown on lawyers continues as disabled human rights practitioner put under house arrest

Ni Yulan, who defended people evicted from their homes, told Reuters she has been under house arrest for 12 days.

She was prevented from travelling to the US last month to receive the international women of courage award – given to female human rights advocates.

Diplomats from the EU, France, Germany, Switzerland and Canada attempted to visit her and deliver food but were denied entry, she explained.

A diplomat confirmed that they had been prevented from seeing her.

Ms Yulan was left using a wheelchair after she was beaten by police in 2002 because she filmed a forced demolition of her client’s home.

And despite the fact she is likely to be evicted from her home, plainclothes police are refusing her permission to find new accommodation.

President Xi Jinping began a crackdown on lawyers after he rose to power. Ms Yulan has been jailed repeatedly by the authorities – first in 2002 and then in 2008 after she defended residents whose homes were being demolished in preparation for the Beijing Olympics.

In 2012, she was jailed for fraud and “making trouble”.