Who Is Zhang Zhan? Chinese Journalist Who Covered COVID-19 Is Ailing In Prison

Who is Zhang Zhan: A journalist facing prison time for her COVID-19 reports on Wuhan in China, Zhang Zhan is reportedly on a hunger strike behind bars that has affected her health. In December last year, a Shanghai court sentenced her to four years of imprisonment.

As per information from her family and lawyers, as relayed to The New York Times, Zhan's hunger strike has led to a severe drop of over 70 pounds in her weight. "She still insisted that she is not guilty, and will not eat regularly," her mother was quoted saying in a message to Zhan's former lawyer.

She added her daughter's condition was weak and that she was not responding to the family's pleas to resume regular meals.

She was arrested in May on charges of "provoking trouble" - a common charge under Article 293 of Chinese law that dissenters in the country often face - and thus began a protracted hunger strike.

All You Should Know About Who Is Zhang Zhan And Why She Is In Prison

In February 2020, Zhan had travelled from Shanghai to Wuhan, where the first case of the novel coronavirus was detected, amid an escalating COVID-19 outbreak. A former lawyer, the 37-year-old delivered searing criticism of the Chinese government's handling of the health crisis, facing consequences from the authoritarian rule.

Zhan was one among tens of other Chinese journalists on whom the government came down with a heavy hand for reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak, documenting the chaos at hospitals and questioning the lack of due administrative action. Following her reports at the time, Zhan went missing only later revealed to be in police custody.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International in a report claimed Zhan was "tortured for exposing truth" and during detention, was shackled and force-fed. The US and the UK have both called for Zhan's immediate release citing rights violations.

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