Woman quarantined after release

Ran Suibi (Photo: 维权网)

(Chongqing—March 27, 2020) Officials placed a rights activist under forced quarantine after releasing her from a three-and-a-half-year prison term.

Ran Suibi was imprisoned in 2016 on a provocation charge after she protested in various ways. These included holding signs in objection to official corruption, supporting Hong Kong’s Occupy Central Movement, and self-immolating to demonstrate against Chinese rule.

Self-immolating, or the act of setting oneself ablaze, is a tactic some in China use to express discontent with the government. While it can result in death, bystanders rescued Ran.

During her three-and-a-half-year prison sentence, Ran was beaten with an electric baton. She also received beatings for several days and nights because of her unfamiliarity with prison and behavioral rules. In addition, officials forced her to stand still for several nights and placed her in an isolated cell for more than a year.

Because of the mistreatment she underwent, her health is poor, and her eyes are not in good condition.

She plans to sue the prison for torture.

After her jail term expired, Ran was quarantined for 16 days. She was then moved to another location for another week of quarantine, to which she objected.

This exceeds the recommended 14-day quarantine time for COVID-19 by nine days, making it unnecessary for authorities to hold her against her will.