Wang Quanzhang, one of the lawyers, has had to move 13 times in just two months, living in borrowed apartments where the power is often cut off.

Another lawyer left Beijing altogether in an attempt to escape the harassment. Colleague Bao Longjun has been barred from leaving his own apartment multiple times by unidentified groups of men stationed outside his door.

Furthermore, another lawyer and his wife were detained.

These four individuals are members of a group known as the 709 lawyers, named after the date when a crackdown on independent legal advocacy began in 2015, leading to the arrest of hundreds of lawyers.

The 709 lawyers have been known for providing legal assistance to individuals facing political charges or struggling to access benefits from unaccountable bureaucracies.

Their work has included defending members of Falun Gong, a religious movement banned by the Chinese government, and advocating for increased pensions. Despite being disbarred after their arrests in 2015, these lawyers continued similar work that did not require a law license after their release from prison.

According to Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, the harassment incidents coincided with visits by foreign dignitaries, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's foreign minister, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

These visits aimed to signal a willingness to engage with China, but the treatment of human rights lawyers and their families demonstrates the Chinese authorities' intention to further suppress civil society.

The harassment incidents unfolded with the detention of disbarred rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife while they were en route to the European Union Delegation.

Around the same time, two other rights lawyers were sentenced to more than 10 years in prison on charges of "subverting state power."

Wang and Bao faced bewildering situations as groups of unidentified men began loitering outside their doors, preventing them from leaving their apartments.

It is believed that these men are informal contractors for the police, commonly employed by local Chinese governments to exert extralegal pressure on individuals deemed troublesome.

Wang's landlord also terminated his lease and cut off electricity, water, and gas supply to the apartment, effectively forcing Wang and his family to move.

Another disbarred rights lawyer, Li Heping, and his family left Beijing due to similar pressure. Bao, who owns his home, experiences intermittent visits from plainclothes men who confine him inside his house.

The purpose of the harassment is to coerce the advocates into leaving Beijing, with authorities likely hoping that they would become someone else's problem in their hometowns.

Wang and his wife, Li Wenzu, have endured 13 relocations within Beijing, accompanied by groups of plainclothes men who surveil them.

Their presence unnerves landlords and neighbors, leading to requests to vacate the premises on the same day of check-in in some cases.

Wang and his wife have sent their son to live with relatives, and they have resorted to living in a suburban apartment owned by a friend, where they frequently experience power outages.

The constant surveillance, intimidation, and forced relocations faced by these human rights lawyers are indicative of the Chinese authorities' ongoing efforts to suppress civil society and dissenting voices.

By targeting these individuals, the authorities aim to deter them from continuing their advocacy work and silencing their voices of dissent.

This systematic harassment not only infringes upon their basic rights but also sends a chilling message to others in the civil rights community who may be considering similar actions.

The international community has condemned these actions, particularly as they coincide with diplomatic visits aimed at improving relations with China.

While foreign dignitaries seek to engage with China and emphasize economic cooperation, the treatment of human rights lawyers and their families exposes the harsh reality of repression and suppression within the country.

This dissonance between diplomatic rhetoric and the Chinese authorities' actions raises concerns about the credibility and sincerity of China's commitment to human rights.

The plight of these lawyers underscores the challenges faced by civil rights activists in China and the urgent need for greater protection of human rights in the country.

It highlights the importance of international pressure and advocacy to hold China accountable for its human rights violations.

Governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals must continue to speak out against these injustices and demand an end to the harassment and persecution of human rights defenders.

Furthermore, the targeting of these lawyers and their families has significant consequences for the overall state of civil society in China.

By suppressing independent legal advocacy, the Chinese authorities undermine the rule of law and hinder access to justice for individuals who rely on these lawyers for support.

The erosion of civil rights not only impacts the individuals directly affected but also weakens the fabric of society as a whole.

In conclusion, the harassment faced by these human rights lawyers and their families is a grave violation of their rights and a concerning indication of the Chinese authorities' determination to suppress civil society.

The international community must continue to shine a spotlight on these injustices, urging China to uphold its obligations under international human rights standards. Protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals is essential for the advancement of a just and inclusive society in China.