Opinion | Woman gets locked in morgue after labour camp, Beijing petition

Like many petitioners who dare to journey to Beijing to seek redress for injustices, Chen Qingxia soon found herself sent to toil in a dingy labour camp.

Chen's case took a turn for the unusual when she was released 18 months later. Rather than be allowed to return to her home in Heilongjiang province, Chen was immediately locked up again. This time they sent her to an abandoned morgue. 

She is under the watchful eye of 24-hour security and is allowed only minimal contact with family members.

Chen had originally gone to Beijing in 2007 to protest the alleged police mistreatment and abuse of her mentally-ill husband. The man, suffering from a bout of post traumatic stress disorder, was arrested for vandalism and jailed in 2003. He is now in a mental asylum. 

Due to her failing health and disability - she says she lost the use of her legs after a police beating - she counts on daily deliveries of food and medicine from her sister. Her only other direct relative, her son, disappeared mysteriously during her trip to Beijing five years ago. He was 12 at the time.