Guo Hongwei (郭宏伟, also rendered 郭洪伟) was a whistleblower and democracy activist from Jilin Province who died on April 9, 2021 after suffering a brain hemorrhage while imprisoned.
Activism and imprisonment
Human-rights reporting describes Guo as a former power-plant worker who became a whistleblower, later campaigned publicly against torture in prisons, and supported the 2014 Hong Kong pro-democracy protests. In 2016 a court in Siping sentenced him to thirteen years in prison on extortion and public-order charges.
Health and death
Guo’s family and sources interviewed by Radio Free Asia alleged that he was subjected to severe mistreatment in prison and that dangerously high blood pressure went untreated. On April 4, 2021, prison authorities told his family that he had suffered a brain hemorrhage. He underwent surgery and died on April 9.
The family sought an independent investigation and raised questions about alleged mistreatment and denial of medical care. These allegations are attributed to the family and reporting sources; no independent autopsy or public investigation established a causal finding.
Related records
Memorial: Guo Hongwei
Media Profile & Archive: Guo Hongwei