On September 12, 2025, retired professor from Shanghai University and human rights activist Gu Guoping was sent back to his home in Shanghai after traveling to Beijing for a petition. In the morning of September 12, local police from the Zhoujiaqiao Police Station in his area went to his home to take him to the hospital for a physical examination as a preparation before being sent to detention.
Before going to Beijing, Gu Guoping had visited a tumor hospital in Shanghai for a check-up where the doctor informed him that the tumor might have spread. He was advised to return to Beijing for further treatment after coming back. On September 11, he received a call from the petition office of Zhoujiaqiao Street in Changning District, Shanghai, saying that he would be criminally detained upon his return to Shanghai.
Gu Guoping was sent back to Shanghai in the morning of September 12 and at the relief station on Fucun Road No. 500, his blood pressure was measured at 215/121mmHg with a heart rate of 91, witnessed by several government officials and petitioners. He was feeling dizzy and unable to stand up.
Gu Guoping told a reporter, “In this situation, the government and police still suspect that I am faking illness and want to take me to the hospital for examination, as a preparation before my detention.”
Eventually, Gu Guoping was taken back home by police officers and petition staff from the Changning District. When he got home, he was so weak that he couldn’t move. Around 2 p.m., police officers from the Zhoujiaqiao Police Station came again to take him for a physical examination.
Gu Guoping’s condition deteriorated, he couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, and felt weak, lying in bed unable to get up. “I asked them to take me to the hospital for treatment, but they refused. They wanted to forcibly take me to the hospital for an examination. I said I couldn’t get up, so they should use a stretcher. After checking with their superiors, they said they would come back in two days.”
“They even doubted the existence of my hypertension and malignant tumor diseases, so they came to my house to collect evidence. They took photos of my medical records, medical certificates, all hospitalization records, examination reports, past medical history, and records of diagnosis from the Shanghai Tumor Hospital.”
Gu Guoping also stated, “On September 11, I went to Zhongnanhai to mail letters and address issues. We did not engage in any provocative or illegal behavior. Forcing me into detention is crossing the bottom line of civilization, law, morality, conscience, and humanity!”
Yu Zhonghuan, a Shanghai petitioner who has a close relationship with Gu Guoping, told a reporter, “Gu Guoping’s prostate cancer has reached the late stage, his condition is deteriorating, he has poor appetite, can only eat a few bites of food in a meal, feels extremely weak, and needs further treatment after blood tests. He wanted to resolve the issue of his house being forcibly demolished in the final stage of his life, which is why he dragged his seriously ill body to Beijing for petition. However, the inhuman Changning District government is pushing him to the brink of death, not only ignoring his various life-threatening diseases but also illegally depriving him of the right to seek medical treatment.”
“Before going to Beijing this time, Gu Guoping had already seen a doctor, and according to the doctor’s advice, he needs to go for further check-ups and treatment next week. Gu Guoping had already informed the leaders of Zhoujiaqiao Street, but they ignored it and continued to detain him, preventing him from seeking medical treatment and taking medication. Isn’t this a form of murder?”