Chinese citizen journalist, Zhang Zhan, who exposed reality of coronavirus outbreak in China’s Wuhan is critically weak and close to death due to her ongoing hunger strike, her family has reported.<o:p></o:p>

Zhan, a 38-year-old former lawyer gained attention from Chinese authorities when she travelled to Wuhan in February 2020 to report on the pandemic centres from the epicenter of Covid, Wuhan. Through her reports, she questioned the handling of the pandemic by the Chinese authorities. <o:p></o:p>

Using her mobile phone, she recorded and shared shocking evidence of bedridden Covid patients who were lined up in hospital corridors in the beginning of the pandemic in Wuhan. She was also manhandled and intimidated by police officers and other Chinese officials who tried to stop her from recording and sharing these videos and images.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-zhang-zhan-jailed-for-covid-19-reporting-in-wuhan-is-on-brink-of-death-426893">WATCH |</a></o:p>

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As expected, China did not let her investigation go on for too long. Her mission came at a great cost and she was detained by Chinese authorities in May 2020. After being detained for nearly seven months, in December she was then sentenced to jail for four years on the charges of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble". &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>

Upon her arrest, she started a hunger strike to protest the inhumane and illegal treatment being given to her. "By not eating, she wants to protest against the illegal nature of her treatment," said Zhang Keke, a member of the legal team representing Zhang. "She believes that not eating is a way to tell them they are wrong."<o:p></o:p>

Her lawyer had also claimed that she was being forced fed through nasal tubes.<o:p></o:p>

However, her family has now claimed that she is now severely underweight and there are higher chances that she "may not live for much longer".<o:p></o:p>

"Zhan is 177cm tall, now she has less than 40 kg wt. She may not survive the coming cold winter. I hope the world remember how she used to be," her brother Zhang Ju reported through his Twitter account.<o:p></o:p>

Calling it a 'shameful attack on human rights', Amnesty International has reiterated on the importance of immediate release of the former lawyer. "Release her immediately so that she can end her hunger strike and receive the appropriate medical treatment she desperately needs," the human rights organisation said in a statement.<o:p></o:p>

"If Zhang Zhan dies in prison, her blood will be on the Chinese government's hands," Amnesty campaigner Gwen Lee said.<o:p></o:p>

Chinese citizen journalist, Zhang Zhan, who exposed reality of coronavirus outbreak in China’s Wuhan is critically weak and close to death due to her ongoing hunger strike, her family has reported.

Chinese citizen journalist, Zhang Zhan, who exposed reality of coronavirus outbreak in China’s Wuhan is critically weak and close to death due to her ongoing hunger strike, her family has reported. Zhan, a 38-year-old former lawyer gained attention from Chinese authorities when she travelled to Wuhan in February 2020 to report on the pandemic centres from the epicenter of Covid, Wuhan. Through her reports, she questioned the handling of the pandemic by the Chinese authorities. Using her mobile phone, she recorded and shared shocking evidence of bedridden Covid patients who were lined up in hospital corridors in the beginning of the pandemic in Wuhan. She was also manhandled and intimidated by police officers and other Chinese officials who tried to stop her from recording and sharing these videos and images. WATCH | As expected, China did not let her investigation go on for too long. Her mission came at a great cost and she was detained by Chinese authorities in May 2020. After being detained for nearly seven months, in December she was then sentenced to jail for four years on the charges of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble". Upon her arrest, she started a hunger strike to protest the inhumane and illegal treatment being given to her. "By not eating, she wants to protest against the illegal nature of her treatment," said Zhang Keke, a member of the legal team representing Zhang. "She believes that not eating is a way to tell them they are wrong." Her lawyer had also claimed that she was being forced fed through nasal tubes. However, her family has now claimed that she is now severely underweight and there are higher chances that she "may not live for much longer". "Zhan is 177cm tall, now she has less than 40 kg wt. She may not survive the coming cold winter. I hope the world remember how she used to be," her brother Zhang Ju reported through his Twitter account. Calling it a 'shameful attack on human rights', Amnesty International has reiterated on the importance of immediate release of the former lawyer. "Release her immediately so that she can end her hunger strike and receive the appropriate medical treatment she desperately needs," the human rights organisation said in a statement. "If Zhang Zhan dies in prison, her blood will be on the Chinese government's hands," Amnesty campaigner Gwen Lee said.

Zhang Zhan, who exposed China's mishandling of Covid, is close to death in jail: Family

In one of the harshest sentence in China, the government arrested a journalist on Thursday for "attacking" the ruling party. The journalist has been sentenced for 15-years.&nbsp;

The government arrested Chen Jien, a former journalist with Communist mouthpiece People's Daily, on the accusation of attacking the ruling party and "picking quarrels and provoking trouble, extortion, illegal business operations and bribery," a court in central Hunan province said in a statement posted online.

The court also accused Jien of posting "false" and "negative" information online "to hype relevant cases under the guise of providing legal advice."&nbsp;

It said Jien was part of an "evil force" along with his ex-wife and three other people that illegally accrued 7.3 million yuan ($1 million) from their activities.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Defenders watchdog has said Jien was convicted "apparently to punish him for his political speech on WeChat and other social media platforms", calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

The rights group also blamed government authorities of denying a fair trial to Jien.

Jien had been sacked from state media outlets including the China Youth Daily, Beijing Daily, and People's Daily and since then he was publishing online commentaries and investigative reports on social media.

The sentence handed down on Chen Jieren is one of the harshest moves yet against free speech by China's government under President Xi Jinping, who has muzzled the press and ordered Chinese media outlets to serve the ruling Communist Party's interests.

It comes as China faces international scrutiny over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including questions over whether authorities covered up crucial information that could have prevented it spreading globally.

The charge of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" is a catch-all that Chinese authorities sometimes use against people who criticise the regime.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

In one of the harshest sentence in China, the government arrested a journalist on Thursday for "attacking" the ruling party. The journalist has been sentenced for 15-years.

In one of the harshest sentence in China, the government arrested a journalist on Thursday for "attacking" the ruling party. The journalist has been sentenced for 15-years. The government arrested Chen Jien, a former journalist with Communist mouthpiece People's Daily, on the accusation of attacking the ruling party and "picking quarrels and provoking trouble, extortion, illegal business operations and bribery," a court in central Hunan province said in a statement posted online. The court also accused Jien of posting "false" and "negative" information online "to hype relevant cases under the guise of providing legal advice." It said Jien was part of an "evil force" along with his ex-wife and three other people that illegally accrued 7.3 million yuan ($1 million) from their activities. Meanwhile, Human Rights Defenders watchdog has said Jien was convicted "apparently to punish him for his political speech on WeChat and other social media platforms", calling for his immediate and unconditional release. The rights group also blamed government authorities of denying a fair trial to Jien. Jien had been sacked from state media outlets including the China Youth Daily, Beijing Daily, and People's Daily and since then he was publishing online commentaries and investigative reports on social media. The sentence handed down on Chen Jieren is one of the harshest moves yet against free speech by China's government under President Xi Jinping, who has muzzled the press and ordered Chinese media outlets to serve the ruling Communist Party's interests. It comes as China faces international scrutiny over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including questions over whether authorities covered up crucial information that could have prevented it spreading globally. The charge of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" is a catch-all that Chinese authorities sometimes use against people who criticise the regime. (With inputs from agencies)

Journalist jailed for 15-years as Chinese government intensifies free-speech clampdown

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Zhang Zhan, who exposed China's mishandling of Covid, is close to death in jail: Family

Journalist jailed for 15-years as Chinese government intensifies free-speech clampdown