Zhang Zhan, a prominent activist and former lawyer based in Shanghai, has endured a grim fate for her commitment to public health advocacy. Her 40th birthday, like many days before it, was spent behind bars.
In February 2020, as the world grappled with the emerging Covid-19 pandemic, Zhang traveled to Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, to document the unfolding crisis. Over the ensuing months, she posted a series of short videos on YouTube, offering a candid look at the severe lockdown measures imposed in the region. Her initial video, titled “My Claim to the Right of Free Speech,” set the tone for her courageous efforts. However, in May of the same year, authorities apprehended Zhang and forcibly returned her to Shanghai. In December, she was convicted of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” and sentenced to four years in prison, a verdict she did not appeal, deeming it unjust.
Zhang’s ordeal has extended beyond imprisonment. She has resorted to periodic hunger strikes as a form of protest, leading authorities to forcibly insert gastric tubes to administer force feeding, a practice that contravenes the Convention against Torture, to which China is a signatory. Her lawyer has reported that Zhang describes her daily life as torture. The Rights Defense Network has reported that Zhang’s weight has halved, and she was transferred to a prison hospital in July 2023, where she has been denied family visits, in violation of international law.
Although Zhang is slated for release in May 2024, mounting concerns surround her health, and questions linger regarding the possibility of authorities extending her detention.
Chinese authorities have shown little tolerance for scrutiny of their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In late 2022, peaceful demonstrators questioning “zero-Covid” policies faced harassment and detention, with some now confronting charges similar to those brought against Zhang.
China has consistently rejected calls for an independent investigation into the origins of Covid-19 and has tightened censorship on medical and scientific information. In February 2023, the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee lauded the government’s Covid-19 response as “a miracle.” However, this rhetoric sharply contrasts with the suppression of Covid-19-related information within China, unwarranted prosecutions for peaceful expression, and prisoners’ dire lack of access to adequate medical care.
If Beijing genuinely wishes to convey its commitment to addressing public health crises, it should release Zhang Zhan immediately and uphold the rights of individuals advocating for public health matters.
