15/07/2015 JAL 15/07/2015 JUA Case No Country Mandate(s) BGD 3/2015 Bangladesh Freedom of expression; Human rights defenders; Independence of judges and lawyers; Truth, justice, reparation & guarantees on non-rec; CHN 6/2015 Arbitrary China (People's detention; Republic of) Freedom of expression; Human rights defenders; Independence of judges and lawyers; Summary of the allegation transmitted Reply Allegations relative to judicial proceedings, with no access to appeal procedures, against a journalist and a group of 23 individuals for exercising their legitimate right to freedom of expression. According to the information received, on 2 December 2014, Mr. David Bergman, a journalist, was convicted and sentenced by the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh under contempt of court charges for having published on his blog three articles challenging the ‘death figure’ of the 1971 Liberation War and expressing criticism of the Tribunal. Reportedly after 49 persons signed a letter expressing concern at his conviction, 23 of them were charged for contempt and, on 10 June 2015, one of the signatories, Mr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, was found guilty by the Tribunal. It is further reported that the law does not provide access to appeal in such cases. Following a petition with the High Court division of the Supreme Court, Mr. Chowdhury made an “Application for Complete Justice” at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, the hearing of which is due to take place on 26 July 2015. 09/10/2015 Alleged arbitrary arrest and detention, in some cases incommunicado, or questioning of more than 140 lawyers and other persons associated to their work, as well as unknown fate and whereabouts of 12 of them. According to the information received, since 9 July 2015, more than 140 lawyers and other persons associated to their work, including law firm employees, legal staff and human rights defenders, have been detained or questioned by the police throughout the country. Seven individuals, including four lawyers, are in police custody to this date; among them are Ms. Wang Yu, a well-known lawyer based in Beijing, and her husband, Mr. Bao Longjun. Three other individuals, including two lawyers, are under residential surveillance at unknown locations. 12 persons, including three lawyers, have also reportedly disappeared in unknown circumstances and their fate and whereabouts are unknown to date. Serious concern is expressed as most of the lawyers, if not all, had been working on human rights-related and other politically sensitive cases. A/HRC/31/79 46 Date Type