TAKE ACTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

GRAVE CONCERNS FOR LIFE OF DETAINED JOURNALIST

China UA 90.24

Since being sentenced in September 2025 to another four years in prison, journalist Zhang Zhan’s health has deteriorated to an alarming level. She suffers from serious gastric illness and has lost significant weight, becoming extremely weak. She has reportedly been on hunger strike against her arbitrary detention since January 2025. Her condition is life-threatening, and urgent intervention in her case is critical; yet, persistent refusal to provide her access to a lawyer of her choice has hampered efforts to document her situation and appeal her conviction. She must be released immediately and, pending her release, she must have access to adequate healthcare, provided in compliance with medical ethics.

Call on Vice Mayor Zhang to release Zhang Zhan immediately and unconditionally - send your message to Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Xie Fang, using our email writing tool.

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Ambassador

Xie

Fang

Chinese Embassy in the United States

Dear Vice Mayor Zhang,

I am writing to express urgent concern for journalist and human rights defender Zhang Zhan (张展), whose health is reportedly deteriorating in custody.

For months she has been reported extremely weak, suffering serious gastric illness and significant weight loss, and she has reportedly continued a hunger strike protesting her arbitrary detention. During her previous imprisonment, a prolonged hunger strike led to multiple hospitalizations, raising alarm about the cumulative impact on her health. Since her conviction in September 2025, her lawyers’ repeated requests to meet her have been refused, undermining her right to counsel and appeal, while her family and lawyer have faced harassment and intimidation. On May 14, 2026, six years since her first arrest and a four-year sentence after a sham trial, she remains deprived of liberty after being re-arrested less than four months after her release.

I urge you to:

- Release Zhang Zhan immediately and unconditionally and ensure the convictions are quashed;

-Pending her release, ensure that Zhang Zhan has adequate access to qualified health professionals providing health care in compliance with medical ethics, including the principles of confidentiality, autonomy, and informed consent;

-Ensure she can have access to her lawyers and family, and that she is not subject to torture or other ill-treatment;

-Stop harassing and threatening human rights defenders and those who support them, such as their families and lawyers.

Yours sincerely,

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