China making example of jailed Wuhan Covid journalist, says lawyer | China

The detention of Zhang Zhan, the Chinese journalist who was detained in Wuhan after reporting on the Covid pandemic, is intended as a “warning to others,” said her former lawyer, as demands for her emergency medical release increase.

Hundreds of Chinese human rights lawyers and citizens put their names in an open letter demanding immediate medical attention from Zhang, who her family fears will be near death. Zhang has been on hunger strike for more than a year to protest her persecution after reporting on the Wuhan lockdown in early 2020.

Their reports challenged official claims about the Wuhan lockdown and outbreak that authorities tried to cover up. On Thursday, she was awarded the Reporters Without Borders Prize for Press Freedom 2021 for her courage.

Zhang, a 38-year-old former lawyer, was sentenced to four years in prison last December for spreading false information in her video and blog reports from Wuhan, as well as in interviews with foreign press. She was first arrested in May of that year and charged with “creating disputes and provoking trouble” – an accusation often made against dissidents, activists and journalists.

Zhang Zhan. Her family fears that she is near death. Photo: YouTube / AFP / Getty Images

Ren Quanniu, whose legal license was revoked after representing Zhang and members of the Hong Kong 12, said it was possible that Zhang’s severe sentence was “retaliation” against citizen journalists who tried to cover the Wuhan outbreak to send a message to others given to her The first arrest received so much coverage in the international media.

“The virus problem is indeed very sensitive, including where it comes from and what the situation is like in Wuhan,” he said. “She went there to do some on-site interviews and was in contact with Radio Free Asia and the Epoch Times for interviews. Both are viewed as hostile media by Chinese officials. “

Ren said the condemnation also reflects China’s strict controls over journalism, public opinion and freedom of speech. “Regardless of whether you are a citizen journalist or the independent media, nothing may be said that is so-called ‘sensitive’ and does not correspond to the caliber of the propaganda. By making these things public, you may encounter results similar to those of Zhang Zhan. This is a warning to others. “

While human rights monitors, rights groups and media organizations claim she should never have been convicted, an international campaign is urging her release on all possible grounds in order to save her life.

Family, friends, and lawyers said they tried to get Zhang to end the strike, but they couldn’t be convinced. Shortly before she was sentenced, Zhang’s attorney at the time, Zhang Keke, reported that she had been detained and tube-fed.

‘It is hanging by a thread, we are very concerned’ letter to the prison authorities

Attempts by the family to seek emergency care from authorities appear to have stalled, with Covid restrictions stating that paperwork must wait 48 hours to be disinfected before handing it over to prison administration.

A request from the family to the Shanghai Prison Administration Office said they understood the case was sensitive, but doctors said it was very likely that she could die without treatment and that they were ready to respond to the authorities’ demands to work together to obtain their release.

An open letter, signed by at least 163 lawyers and citizens, urged authorities to release her for medical treatment.

“It is hanging by a thread, we are very worried,” said an English translation of the letter. “In order to prevent a tragedy from happening, we feel it is necessary to write you a letter expressing our common desire: a thorough physical examination for Zhang Zhan and emergency treatment.”

The letter said Zhang was innocent and praised her work during the first few months of the outbreak, when little was known about the dangers of the virus and Chinese authorities tried to cover it up.

“When many people fled Wuhan out of fear, Zhang went in alone. That kind of courage is rare, ”it said. “[This] A modern government should encourage this behavior. Not only does it help disaster relief, it creates an atmosphere of mutual help and friendship … It is unjust to punish Zhang Zhan’s actions with criminal means that were not only harmless but helpful. ”

Last week the US State Department criticized the “arbitrary” detention and demanded their immediate and unconditional release.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/18/china-making-example-jailed-wuhan-covid-journalist-zhang-zhan-lawyer