[JURIST] Chinese lawyer Li Heping was captured and abused by unknown assailants for representing clients lodging complaints against the government of China [JURIST news archive], Li told AP Wednesday. Li said he was abducted by a group of men, forced into a car, and beaten with batons for hours in the basement of an unknown building. His attackers allegedly told him that he was "making trouble in Beijing" by representing clients against the government.

Rights groups have recently slammed China [JURIST report] for not keeping its promises to improve human rights and press freedom in preparation for the 2008 Olympics [official website]. Last week, Chinese lawyer and outspoken critic of the Chinese government Gao Zhisheng [JURIST news archive] was again arrested [JURIST report], this time for writing a letter to the US Congress asking the US to help the human rights situation in his home country. In August, Reporters Without Borders [advocacy website] demonstrated in Beijing in protest of the continued detention of nearly 100 journalists and activists. AP has more.