"Tied Hands and Intubated for Liquid Food Feeding"…China Tortured Reporter Who Exposed COVID-19 in Wuhan

Lawyer: "Tube inserted up to the throat... hands and feet tied for 24 hours"

Citizen journalist Jang Jan, who was arrested for reporting the situation in Wuhan, China, the initial outbreak site of COVID-19. Photo by South China Morning Post (SCMP) YouTube capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A citizen journalist who was arrested for revealing the truth in Wuhan, China, the initial outbreak site of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), has claimed to have been tortured.

According to major foreign media on the 10th (local time), the lawyer of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan (張展, 37) visited him on the 8th at a detention facility near Shanghai, confirmed abnormalities in his body, and announced this through a blog on the 9th.

The lawyer said, "At the time of the visit, Zhang Zhan was wearing thick pajamas and had a large belt fastened around his waist. His left hand was fixed in front of his body, and his right hand was fixed behind his body."

Zhang Zhan began a hunger strike last September to protest her detention and assert her innocence.

Chinese correctional authorities reportedly ignored Zhang Zhan's intention to fast, inserted a tube up to her throat to administer liquid food, and forced her to wear shackles and handcuffs all day for the past three months.

Due to the tube insertion, Zhang Zhan is said to have developed inflammation in her mouth and throat. She is complaining of headaches, abdominal pain, and dizziness.

Earlier, in February, Zhang Zhan went to Wuhan and reported on issues occurring locally, such as harassment of families of COVID-19 victims, broadcasting live on Twitter and YouTube.

Zhang Zhan criticized the authorities' response to the disease spread in Wuhan, human rights violations, possible concealment of the severity of COVID-19 by the authorities, and censorship of mainstream media.

After being arrested in May on charges of causing a public disturbance, Zhang Zhan was prosecuted on charges of spreading false information through internet media such as WeChat, Twitter, and YouTube, maliciously analyzing the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Wuhan, and interviewing foreign media including Radio Free Asia, and was sentenced to 4 to 5 years in prison.

Zhang Zhan strongly denies the charge of spreading false information, stating it was "information obtained through interviews with Wuhan residents."

Zhang Zhan's lawyer said, "She expected a trial to be held this month, but it is reported that the court has no such plans, so her hopes have disappeared," adding, "She is worried about whether she can survive."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.