UK lawyers for Hong Kong activist targeted by Chinese state
What's the story
Lawyers in the United Kingdom, representing Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, have been targeted in a coordinated campaign of intimidation. The legal team from Doughty Street Chambers in London has been threatened since they took up Lai's case three years ago. Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, who leads the team, has received multiple threats through email and social media, including those of dismemberment, rape, and death.
Harassment tactics
Cyberattacks and physical surveillance plague legal team
Gallagher claims she has also been targeted with "hundreds" of attempts to hack her bank account and "privilege phishing" efforts to extract sensitive information. Fake emails have been circulated under Gallagher's name, including one falsely announcing her resignation. The team has reported receiving WhatsApp calls appearing to be from colleagues but aren't. In 2023, Gallagher and Jennifer Robinson reported being followed at the United Nations office in Geneva, indicating physical surveillance tactics.
State involvement
Chinese state activity and sophisticated cyberattacks
The suspected Chinese state activity has also extended to denunciations in government statements and media. Gallagher believes the coordination of these cyberattacks indicates state involvement. The online attacks have been reported to the Metropolitan Police but are difficult to trace due to their sophisticated nature. Other members of the legal team, including clerks and researchers, have also been targeted with one person's iPhone being cloned.
Safety risks
Legal team's safety concerns and parliamentary evidence
Jonathan Price, another barrister on the team, said he was worried about publicly associating with the case due to safety risks. The lawyers now avoid traveling to countries with extradition agreements with China or Hong Kong. They decided to speak out now due to increasing transnational repression and targeting of lawyers. Gallagher recently submitted evidence on the issue to the UK Parliament's Joint Committee on Human Rights.