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Chinese COVID whistleblower due for release after 4 years in jail
Reuters ^ | May 13, 2024

Posted on 05/13/2024 2:50:09 PM PDT by george76

Authorities in China were expected on Monday to release a citizen journalist jailed for four years after she documented the early phases of the coronavirus outbreak from the central city of Wuhan in 2020.

Zhang Zhan, 40, had travelled to Wuhan in early 2020 from Shanghai where she was based, posting first-hand accounts ...

After several months of reporting that included videos.. she was detained in May 2020. She went on hunger strike in late June, court documents seen by Reuters said, prompting police to strap her hands and force-feed her with a tube, her lawyers said at the time. In December 2020 she was convicted by a Shanghai court of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" and sentenced to four years imprisonment.

An indictment for Zhang's case published by human rights activists indicated she would be released on Monday. One of her lawyers, Zhang Keke, however, told Reuters that he couldn't yet confirm whether she had been released.

...

Jane Wang, a UK-based advocate for Zhang Zhan's release, said Zhang's family had been put under enormous pressure from authorities and warned not to engage with the media.

"It is totally unacceptable that the Chinese government subjects many human rights defenders and their families to this kind of cruelty. Even after their release from prison, they are still deprived of their basic rights," Wang told Reuters.

Zhang Zhan's health seriously declined in jail and she was admitted to a prison hospital, opens new tab in mid-2023,

...

Hailed as a hero by many regular Chinese for chronicling the coronavirus crisis amid an initial information blackout

...

Although people who have just been released are generally under strict surveillance and this process is even more painful than in prison, I still hope that she (Zhang) can get the freedom she deserves

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: China; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; United Kingdom; War
KEYWORDS: 202005; 202006; 202012; china; coronavirus; covid; covid19; hungerstrike; prc; shanghai; whistleblower; wiv; wuhan; zhan; zhang; zhangzhan

1 posted on 05/13/2024 2:50:09 PM PDT by george76
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To: george76

Wow! The CCP is getting soft. Used to be they would just put a bullet in the back of your head and then charge the family for the cost of the round.


2 posted on 05/13/2024 2:53:28 PM PDT by Sirius Lee (They intend to kill us. Plan to avoid this.)
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To: george76

Come to America where you can live free under the deep state. /s


3 posted on 05/13/2024 3:12:50 PM PDT by Track9 (If you want to know about human nature, read a power tool user manual. )
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To: george76

4 posted on 05/13/2024 3:19:12 PM PDT by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me https://youtu.be/wH-pk2vZG2M)
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To: Sirius Lee

When it comes to deceit, Nancy Pelosi owns these guys.


5 posted on 05/13/2024 3:20:10 PM PDT by Track9 (If you want to know about human nature, read a power tool user manual. )
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To: Track9

Speaking of ‘cruelty’ (desire to be inflicted).


6 posted on 05/13/2024 3:35:48 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: george76

AT last second they will probably find a needful compatible transplant recipient...


7 posted on 05/13/2024 4:58:40 PM PDT by Axenolith (Here... Hold my beer and check this out...)
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