Many of these institutions are prison-hospitals for holding prisoners judged to be mentally ill, and operate directly under the local Public Security Bureau.
[16] Following his release in 2006, Wang was examined for two days by Dr. Raes and Dr. van der Meer[clarification needed], who said in a statement: "He was not suffering from any mental disorder that could justify his admission."
Human Rights Watch says it has documented 3,000 cases of psychiatric punishment of political dissidents since the early 1980s.
[17] In 2000, Robin J. Munro drew attention when he made allegations of abuses of forensic psychiatry in China.
[18] In 2002, Human Rights Watch and the Geneva Initiative on Psychiatry issued a report which alleged that Chinese dissidents, independent labour organisers, whistle-blowers and individuals who complain about official misconduct have been labelled "political maniacs" and locked up in mental hospitals simply for opposing the government.