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Zhang Zhan: US asks China to free jailed Wuhan citizen journalist Zhang Zhan: US asks China to free jailed Wuhan citizen journalist
(about 1 hour later)
China citizen journalist Zhang Zhan had been described in recent media reports as being 'near death' from her deteriorating healthChina citizen journalist Zhang Zhan had been described in recent media reports as being 'near death' from her deteriorating health
The US state department has urged China to release citizen journalist Zhang Zhan. expressing deep concerns over her deteriorating health. The US state department has urged China to release citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, expressing deep concerns over her deteriorating health.
Zhang is serving a four-year jail term over her reporting of the Covid-19 situation in Wuhan. She was given a four-year jail term over her reporting of the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan when the pandemic began.
She has been on an intermittent hunger strike since she was detained in May last year. Zhang has been on an intermittent hunger strike since she was detained in May last year.
The US has urged authorities to release her amidst reports that her strike has left her perilously close to death. The US moves comes after reports that she is perilously close to death.
"We have repeatedly expressed our serious concerns about the arbitrary nature of her detention and her mistreatment during it," US State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters."We have repeatedly expressed our serious concerns about the arbitrary nature of her detention and her mistreatment during it," US State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters.
"We reiterate our call to the PRC for her immediate and unconditional release.""We reiterate our call to the PRC for her immediate and unconditional release."
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Zhang, a 38-year-old former lawyer, had initially travelled to Wuhan in February 2020 after reading an online post by a resident about life in the city during the outbreak.Zhang, a 38-year-old former lawyer, had initially travelled to Wuhan in February 2020 after reading an online post by a resident about life in the city during the outbreak.
Once there, she began documenting what she saw on the streets and hospitals in livestreams and essays, despite threats by authorities, and her reports were widely shared on social mediaOnce there, she began documenting what she saw on the streets and hospitals in livestreams and essays, despite threats by authorities, and her reports were widely shared on social media
In May she was found guilty of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" - a charge that is commonly levelled against activists and whistleblowers seen as undermining the government's efforts to control information in the country. In May she was found guilty of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" - a charge that is commonly levelled against activists and whistle blowers seen as undermining the government's efforts to control information in the country.
Zhang started a hunger strike in protest while in jail. Since then, she has drastically lost weight and reportedly been held in physical restraints and force-fed through a tube.Zhang started a hunger strike in protest while in jail. Since then, she has drastically lost weight and reportedly been held in physical restraints and force-fed through a tube.
Her family have sought medical parole amidst fears she will not make it through the winter. However, her brother told Hong Kong media that the chance of approval is 'extremely slim'.Her family have sought medical parole amidst fears she will not make it through the winter. However, her brother told Hong Kong media that the chance of approval is 'extremely slim'.
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The BBC has obtained the footage of what is thought to be Zhang's last interview before she was detained.The BBC has obtained the footage of what is thought to be Zhang's last interview before she was detained.
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