Recently, Li Yu, a human rights activist, suffered a severe and constant cough due to complications from asthma. Local national security officers surveil her and took Li Yu to small clinics to treat her with shots and medication. Her symptoms did not improve. Li Yu wanted to go to a hospital, but they rejected her request. She posted a video, asking for help and calling on people to follow her situation.

In the video, Li Yu held her ID, saying, “Hello all, my name is Li Yu. I am an advocate and a single mom. I was imprisoned twice on a charge of provoking trouble and picking quarrels for six years total. My son is 8 years old.”

Then, Li Yu coughed harshly.

I was kidnapped by the local government in Dadong village, Fangshan district, Beijing in November 2021 because I raised my voice for Zhang Zhan. I was forced into the two-week quarantine on the excuse of COVID-19. On December 29, I was kidnapped by the local government again in Dadong village, Fangshan district, Beijing city because I spoke up for Li Tiantian. I was forcibly quarantined for 21 days on the excuse of COVID-19. The quarantine was over on January 20, 2022.

Today, authorities installed a surveillance camera at my home in my hometown. They also used a rented home to watch me in my house, and they don’t let me leave. If I want to go out, I should get permission from superiors and apply, and I can’t leave without their permission.

I met with my son, who I have not seen for many years, during the Winter Olympics and the National Two Sessions. The meeting was only 10 minutes. I was forced to give up all my social apps including my Twitter account because I spoke up for the chained woman on Twitter. In addition, all my tweets were deleted through different tech approaches, and I was barred from staying in contact with others. On March 8, I was forced to travel.

After I returned to a medium-risk area, I was required to quarantine at home for 14 days in Zaozhuang. I had a COVID test every other day because of my cough, but I didn’t receive any medical treatment. The stay-home quarantine was over on March 24. I had a constant cough because of complications from asthma, and I was not given money for medical treatment. I don’t know why my hometown, Zaozhuang, put me in quarantine again and again. Now, I am not allowed to go anywhere because of the pandemic. I have been banned from visiting Beijing for 3 months, and they have not given me an answer to my appeals. I want to live, I want to survive, I want to live a normal life, I want to see my son, I want my custody back. Please follow my case.

Li Yu is a human rights activist residing in Zaozhuang, Shandong. In 2008, she started to protect her rights because her home and farm were destroyed. Afterward, she was detained twice by Chinese authorities for attending events commemorating Tiananmen Square Massacre, and her imprisonment totaled 6 years. She gave birth to a child before the second conviction, they stripped Li Yu of parent custodial rights. Her child was sent to an orphanage.

Li Yu, escorted by multiple government personnel, visited her son for the first time in three years. Her son will turn 9 years old soon. They allowed Li Yu to see her son for over 10 minutes.

On March 8, 2022, International Women’s Day, Li Yu wore a mask with the image of the chained lady and a chair on her neck, calling on the government to investigate the case. She recorded it and uploaded it to social media.

Afterward, Zaozhuang national security officers threatened and surveilled Li Yu. National security officers demanded that Li Yu stay at home for three months. They warned her not to post anything on WeChat or social media.