The 709 incident…refers to the incident on 9 July 2015 in which hundreds of rights-defence lawyers, legal assistants, law firm personnel, rights-defence activists and relatives of lawyers and activists were detained by public security authorities and subjected to arrest, summons, interrogation, exit restrictions, forced disappearance or short-term restriction of personal freedom. As of 31 May 2016, the number of affected persons had reached 319 and extended to 25 provinces in China.

The 709 Incident can be roughly divided in eight parts as follows…Rights-defence activists Wu Gan and Zhai  Yanmin detained, and official media defame lawyer Wang Yu…Surprise investigation of the Beijing Fengrui Law Firm and other rights-defence lawyers…Government media extensively report on the 709 Incident…Integrated interrogations throughout China, hundreds of rights-defence lawyers and citizens summonsed…Tianjin PSB forced to admit that it is the authority in charge of 709 cases, and that relevant persons have been subject to residential surveillance (secret detention) in designated locations for six months…Strict control over family members, other lawyers and vocal supporters…A majority arrested and a minority released…Investigation and detention period extended, and meeting rights repeatedly denied…