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The lawyer who was banned in April from leaving China, announced Sunday that he arrived with his family in the United States REUTERS / Aly Song

Chen Jiangang, a Chinese human rights lawyer, who had been banned from leaving China in April, announced Sunday (August 4th) that he and his family had arrived in the United States, where he was arrested. invited to continue his studies. The lawyer explained in a statement that he had been persecuted.

" Threats and imminent danger of enforced disappearance, torture or even death ". It is in these terms that the famous Chinese lawyer and defender of human rights explains the reasons that drove him to flee his country.

Chen Jiangang arrived with his family at the JFK airport in New York on Saturday night, according to a statement sent to the press by one of his friends.

Last April, when he was preparing to embark on a plane that was to take him to Seattle, the lawyer had been prevented by Chinese customs from leaving Beijing. Chen Jiangang was selected by the United States among emerging figures from around the world to study English for a year.

The lawyer has spent his entire career defending victims in politically sensitive cases. In particular, he defended a pro-democracy activist advocate from Hong Kong. An activity that caused him a lot of trouble with the authorities.

It is not known how Chen Jiangang managed to leave China, but when he arrived in the United States, the lawyer thanked friends and human rights organizations for their help, " without whom," he says. he, his family could never have access to freedom. "

See also: China: Attorney Wang Quanzhang sentenced to four and a half years in prison