Recently, in Jiangsu Province, China, a heartbreaking story unfolded as a visitation petitioner named Yang Li was released from unjust imprisonment in the Jinshan District of Changzhou City. Yang Li, who suffered from kidney disease exacerbated by lack of medical care in prison, was already in the late stage of uremia upon her release. Despite her urgent need for medical assistance, she was held at the local police station for several days after her release and her pleas for help were repeatedly denied by the district party secretary and the police.
Following her release on December 30, 2025, Yang Li was forcibly taken by the Binhu Police Station to their premises for a week of detention. Despite suffering from uremia and urgently needing dialysis treatment, her requests for medical help were consistently turned down by relevant authorities during this period. When Yang Li’s father attempted to pick her up from the police station, the squadron leader Zhang Kaijie openly stated that after the Yang family members pass away, the government can seize all their property, indicating their intention to carry out forced evictions without any hindrances.
Yang Caiying, Yang Li’s sister who resides in Japan, revealed to reporters, “My sister Yang Li was criminally persecuted on the orders of Jiangsu Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary Li Yaoguang for her activism against unlawful land acquisitions and forced evictions. During her unjust 1 year and 3 months of imprisonment, she was subjected to torture and abuse without receiving proper treatment, ultimately resulting in uremia. Despite the authorities being aware of my sister’s critical condition, they consistently refused to provide medical assistance, all for the sake of carrying out forced evictions. Our neighborhood director Luan Liukang and other police officers have also expressed similar sentiments.”
Reports indicate that Yang Li has started experiencing symptoms such as vomiting and severe edema, signaling a critical situation. Despite her family’s efforts to seek medical help, the authorities are obstructing their every move.
A few days ago, Yang Li made appointments for dialysis at Peking University First Hospital on January 12 and for her father’s cardiovascular outpatient treatment on January 13.
On the evening of January 11, Yang Li and her father arrived in Beijing, ready to seek treatment at the hospital. However, they were constantly monitored and tracked by unidentified individuals throughout their journey. Predicting potential interference with her medical treatment given past experiences, Yang Li decided to seek assistance from President Xi Jinping at the Yuguanshan mountain on January 12, only to be intercepted by patrolling police officers on the way.
Yang Caiying further revealed, “Due to my sister’s extremely weak physical condition, someone called for an ambulance. However, instead of being taken to the hospital for immediate treatment, Yang Li was brought to the investigation center of the Sijiqing Police Station of the Haidian Branch of the Beijing Public Security Bureau.”
Despite calling the police station twice to inform them about Yang Li’s condition and the unjust treatment and medical deprivation imposed by the Jiangsu authorities, Yang Caiying was met with impatience and rudeness from the officers who promptly hung up.
In a desperate plea, Yang Caiying stated, “We are now relying on the assistance of netizens to call the Sijiqing Police Station of the Haidian Branch of the Beijing Public Security Bureau, urging them to immediately transfer my sister Yang Li to Peking University First Hospital for urgent treatment.”
Both Yang Li and her mother, Xu Dongqing, faced criminal persecution by Jiangsu Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary Li Yaoguang for their activism against illegal land acquisitions and forced evictions, resulting in one year and three months and one year and two months of imprisonment respectively, charged with “provoking trouble.”
With Yang Li suffering from kidney disease and Xu Dongqing from heart disease, both were subjected to torture and denied the right to proper medical care while imprisoned, endangering their lives. Despite the critical state of their health, the authorities of Jintan Public Security Bureau, Changzhou City Detention Center, knowingly and systematically deprived them of medical care, leading to a irreversible deterioration in their conditions. Yang Guoliang, the father, also developed heart disease and high blood pressure due to stress, requiring a comprehensive examination, which was delayed due to the critical conditions of his wife and daughter.
In a final plea, Yang Caiying urged, “We are now publicly disclosing the contact information of the responsible officials, including Jintan District Party Secretary Lu Qiuming, neighborhood director Luan Liukang, Changzhou National Security Officer Qi Mingzhi, and Binhu Police Station Director Ma Yunpeng, appealing to netizens to call and supervise them, urging the authorities to ensure timely medical treatment for Yang Li, my father Yang Guoliang, and Xu Dongqing.”
This distressing story of unjust imprisonment and inhumane treatment highlights the need for immediate intervention to protect the human rights and well-being of Yang Li and her family, as they continue to fight for justice and basic medical care.