Zhang Zhan (張展), a citizen journalist, was released from prison after serving four years for charges related to reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, she said in a video statement released on Tuesday, eight days after her sentence ended.
There are concerns about how much freedom of movement Zhang has.
She was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a vaguely defined charge often used in political cases, and served her full term.
Photo: EPA-EFE
However, on the day of her release, her former lawyers could not reach Zhang or her family. Shanghai police had visited activists and her former lawyers in the days leading up to her release.
Zhang in a short video said she was taken by police to her brother Zhang Ju’s (張舉) home on Monday last week.
“I want to thank everyone for their help and concern,” she said in a soft voice, standing in what appeared to be the hallway of an apartment building.
The video was posted by Jane Wang (王劍虹), an overseas activist who launched the Free Zhang Zhan campaign in the UK and is in contact with one of Zhang’s former lawyers.
However, Wang in a statement said that Zhang still has limited freedom.
There was concern that Zhang would be kept under control by police even if she was no longer in prison, Wang said.
The US Department of State also issued a statement of concern over Zhang’s status in the days after she was due to be released.
Ren Quanniu (任全牛) represented Zhang before being stripped of his license in February 2021.
He said he confirmed the video was true by speaking with Zhang’s family.
“She’s not free, she’s relatively free,” Ren said in a message. “She’s still under the watch and care of the police.”
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