'Depressed and unemployed': China's rights lawyers battle disbarment

Plainclothes police officers stop photographs outside the court where the human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang was tried in December 2018. [AFP]

Once a staunch defender of rights activists in court, Liu Zhengqing has sunk into a depression since being barred by Chinese authorities in January.

"I have been unemployed at home," the 55-year-old told AFP, adding that it is especially hard to find work given his age.