Nima Pratton

University student Zheng Jie fled China after twice being detained in psychiatric hospitals for protesting against the country's strict Covid measures.

University student Zheng Jie fled China after twice being detained in psychiatric hospitals for protesting against the country's strict Covid measures.

Junjie's medical records show he was prescribed a large amount of medication during his first hospitalisation. Junjie is not the only Chinese citizen to have been detained in a psychiatric ward for protesting. We've spoken to 15 people and looked at hundreds of cases for this investigation. Many claim to have faced similar treatment.

Junjie's medical records show he was prescribed a large amount of medication during his first hospitalisation. Junjie is not the only Chinese citizen to have been detained in a psychiatric ward for protesting. We've spoken to 15 people and looked at hundreds of cases for this investigation. Many claim to have faced similar treatment.

Jiali Zhen says he was detained in a hospital after attending a protest supporting workers demanding better pay at a factory. He claims he was forced to have electroshock therapy.

Jiali Zhen says he was detained in a hospital after attending a protest supporting workers demanding better pay at a factory. He claims he was forced to have electroshock therapy.

China has guidelines on managing mentally unwell people who disturb public order. In these official documents, they are referred to as troublemakers. Huang Shuetao is a prominent patients' rights lawyer in China. She has spent many years advocating for improving the legislation.

China has guidelines on managing mentally unwell people who disturb public order. In these official documents, they are referred to as troublemakers. Huang Shuetao is a prominent patients' rights lawyer in China. She has spent many years advocating for improving the legislation.

To try and find out what role doctors are playing in this, we have to go undercover. In a secret recording, this doctor told our undercover reporter that police do send patients to his hospital.

To try and find out what role doctors are playing in this, we have to go undercover. In a secret recording, this doctor told our undercover reporter that police do send patients to his hospital.

We then spoke to a doctor from the hospital where Junjie was held to ask why the police visit patients accused of troublemaking.

We then spoke to a doctor from the hospital where Junjie was held to ask why the police visit patients accused of troublemaking.

The Chinese embassy in the UK told the BBC that China operates under the rule of law and that the law explicitly prohibits unlawful detention. In New Zealand, Junjie and I take a walk on the beach just outside of Dunedin, where he lives, reflecting on his journey.

The Chinese embassy in the UK told the BBC that China operates under the rule of law and that the law explicitly prohibits unlawful detention. In New Zealand, Junjie and I take a walk on the beach just outside of Dunedin, where he lives, reflecting on his journey.