LAWYERS for Chinese women’s rights activists slammed police yesterday over their arrest, saying their planned protests on International Women’s Day would have “helped society.”

Despite China’s recognition of March 8 as an official holiday for all its female citizens and a current campaign against “straight man cancer” — a colloquial term for male chauvinism — having received public support from state media, police seized “at least 10” women before the celebrations for planning to put up posters in public places denouncing sexual harassment.

Five — Wei Tingting, Li Tingting, Wang Man, Zheng Churan and Wu Rongrong — remain in custody and could face charges of causing a public disturbance.

“There’s no way the evidence adds up to the charge,” said Yan Xin, who is representing Ms Li.

He added that the officers who had arrested her had not produced formal identification and he planned to file complaints over police “violations of the law.”