Ms. Gu Xiuhua, 40, was a resident of Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province. She went to Beijing to appeal on April 25, 1999, and again in 2000. She was arrested and detained for two months in a brainwashing center, where she suffered a great deal, both physically and mentally. In 2001, she went to the provincial government to appeal. As a result, she was arrested and her house was ransacked. She was fined 6000 yuan before being released, and she was then forced to become homeless to avoid the constant harassment from police. Her physical condition deteriorated gradually, and she died on November 27, 2004.