Gao Zhisheng.

Voted one of the top ten lawyers in 2001, Gao Zhisheng has gone missing, the BBC reports:

“Concern is mounting for a Chinese lawyer who is believed to be in detention but has not been seen for nearly a year.

Foreign governments have urged Chinese officials to reveal the whereabouts of well-known activist Gao Zhisheng.

Human rights groups say it is unusual that there has been no formal word on why Mr Gao was taken and what condition he is in.

Officials have so far given only cryptic hints as to where he is. A foreign ministry spokesman said he was “where he should be”.

The lawyer has long been targeted by the government, which has previously stopped him working, put him on trial and kept him under surveillance. “