On the tenth anniversary of the 2015 '709 Crackdown,' China continues to face criticism over its treatment of human rights lawyers and activists. The crackdown involved the mass detention of at least 286 rights lawyers, defenders, and their families, many of whom were subjected to enforced disappearances, imprisonment, and revocation of their legal licenses. Prominent figures such as lawyer Zhou Shifeng were arrested and sentenced to lengthy prison terms, with Zhou receiving a seven-year sentence after being taken in secret by police and subjected to harsh interrogation without legal representation. The repression has persisted under President Xi Jinping, with the Chinese Communist Party intensifying control over the legal profession to suppress rights defense work and compel lawyers to align with the party's agenda. Former detainees and their families continue to experience surveillance and persecution, with some unable to travel abroad due to passport restrictions. Human rights organizations have marked the anniversary by honoring lawyers like Li Guobei and Lu Siwei, while highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by rights defenders in China. The crackdown's legacy is seen as emblematic of the broader erosion of the rule of law and human rights protections in the country.