Reports have emerged detailing a troubling trend in China: the involuntary hospitalization of individuals for expressing dissent. The BBC has uncovered multiple cases where citizens, particularly those protesting government policies, have been forcibly admitted to psychiatric hospitals, often receiving anti-psychotic medications and electroconvulsive therapy without their consent.
China's Covert Psychiatric Detainment: Dissent in the Name of Mental Health
China's Covert Psychiatric Detainment: Dissent in the Name of Mental Health
China's authorities reportedly misuse mental health laws to silence dissent, detaining protesters under the guise of psychiatric treatment.
Zhang Junjie, a victim of this practice, protested against oppressive lockdowns during a pandemic and was subsequently hospitalized, tied to a bed, and administered drugs for schizophrenia without his agreement. He later fled to New Zealand, fearing for his safety. Numerous similar accounts have surfaced, echoing Junjie's experiences.
Despite a 2013 Mental Health Law designed to prevent abuses, reports indicate that the involuntary commitment of dissenters has intensified. Legal experts attribute this rise to a diminishing civil society, where police and authorities have significant leeway in determining what constitutes a "troublemaker."
Activists have attempted to fight back legally, but the justice system often favors authorities, with statistics revealing a stark disparity in successful appeals. Recently, figures like vlogger Li Yixue have surfaced, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by whistleblowers in China. With the Chinese government's opaque policies continuing unabated, the plight of those resisting oppression remains uncertain.
Despite a 2013 Mental Health Law designed to prevent abuses, reports indicate that the involuntary commitment of dissenters has intensified. Legal experts attribute this rise to a diminishing civil society, where police and authorities have significant leeway in determining what constitutes a "troublemaker."
Activists have attempted to fight back legally, but the justice system often favors authorities, with statistics revealing a stark disparity in successful appeals. Recently, figures like vlogger Li Yixue have surfaced, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by whistleblowers in China. With the Chinese government's opaque policies continuing unabated, the plight of those resisting oppression remains uncertain.
