Beijing
Authorities in Beijing are forcing a prominent dissident physician to undergo “indoctrination” classes, The Washington Post reported this week. Jiang Yanyong, 72, a retired army surgeon, was the whistle-blower who became internationally famous two years ago when he exposed the Chinese government’s coverup of the SARS lung-disease epidemic. Jiang is reportedly being questioned about a letter he wrote to the communist leadership a few months ago denouncing the 1989 massacre of democratic activists in Tiananmen Square. The elderly doctor has been detained in a room under 24-hour surveillance and subjected to what sources have described as “brainwashing.” The government, which had not officially announced Jiang’s detention until confronted by the press, said he had “violated the relevant discipline of the military” and that the army was now “helping and educating him.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
6 peaceful homes near small townsFeature Featuring doors with local topographical maps in Oregon and a 1850s homestead-turned-house in Vermont
-
What would happen to Earth if humans went extinct?The Explainer Human extinction would potentially give rise to new species and climates
-
The best TV shows based on moviesThe Week Recommends A handful of shows avoid derivative storytelling and craft bold narrative expansions
