She wrote about the spread of the corona virus in the metropolis of Wuhan and came to court for it. The verdict: four years in prison. Zhang Zhan was accused of “stirring up disputes and causing unrest” with her reports. The Chinese journalist had reported critical of the authorities’ response to the new virus. She was arrested in May 2020, went on a hunger strike and was force-fed in June. Her health status is extremely poor, according to her lawyers.
Now family members are concerned about Zhang Zhan’s life. The 38-year-old is severely underweight after her week-long hunger strike and “may not live much longer,” wrote her brother Zhang Ju on the online service Twitter. “It may not survive the coming cold winter.” It should weigh less than 40 kilograms.
Zhang’s mother did not want to speak to the AFP news agency about her daughter’s condition. The Shanghai Prison Administration also declined to comment.
Immediate release required – “before it’s too late”
The human rights organization Amnesty International described Zhang’s detention on Thursday as a “shameful attack on human rights”. She must be released immediately so that she can end her hunger strike and receive medical attention. According to Reporters Without Borders, Zhang cannot walk or raise her hand without help. The NGO also called for the blogger to be released “before it is too late”.
The authorities in China have a rigorous policy to contain the coronavirus. Anyone who questions the government’s success in fighting the pandemic must expect reprisals. Zhang is one of four bloggers jailed for reports on the corona situation in Wuhan. (AFP / jmh)