UK and Ireland bar associations team up to condemn China's sanctions on Essex Court Chambers 27 April 2021 Quartet of representative bodies speak out against 'indiscriminate attack on legal professionals' Ethnic Uighurs are seen during a protest against China near the Chinese Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey By Huseyin Aldemir; Shutterstock The four bar associations of the UK and Ireland have issued a joint statement condemning sanctions imposed by China on Essex Court Chambers as an ‘indiscriminate attack on legal professionals’. Calling on China to review the sanctions, the four representative bodies have urged other bar associations to speak out against the unprecedented measure, which they said was a threat to global lawyers and the rule of law.