<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/15/zhang-zhan-chinese-citizen-journalist-supposed-jail-release>
"Concerns are growing about the wellbeing of one of China’s most prominent
citizen journalists who has failed to make contact with the outside world after
she was supposed to have been released from prison.
Zhang Zhan, 40, a lawyer turned citizen journalist, was detained in May 2020
after she travelled to Wuhan to report on the early days of the Covid-19
pandemic. Her videos and social media posts drew attention to the government’s
stifling of information about the spread of the disease and the harsh lockdowns
that were being imposed.
In December 2020, Zhang was convicted of “picking quarrels and provoking
trouble” and sentenced to four years in prison. Her conviction was widely
criticised by human rights organisations.
Reporters Without Borders awarded Zhang a 2021 press freedom award for courage
for “her reporting from the heart of the pandemic’s initial epicentre” which
“was one of the main sources of independent information about the health
situation in Wuhan at the time”.
She had been imprisoned in Shanghai women’s prison and was due to be released
on Monday. But it is not clear if, or under what circumstances, she has been
let out. There were reports in recent weeks that her family and friends were
under intense pressure from the authorities not to contact foreign media or
overseas supporters about her case.
Calls to Shanghai women’s prison on Tuesday and Wednesday did not connect."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
