Thread by @WilliamYang120

Today marks 2 years since Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan was sentenced to four years in prison for covering the initial lockdown in Wuhan. I talked to human rights lawyer @liqiyang and @changchengwai about her conditions in prison: dw.com/zh/%E5%BC%B5%E…

In the latest letter she sent home, which was revealed by Zhang's brother on Twitter, Zhang asked about her family members' situations while saying the police told her to be stronger and that worrying too much isn't helpful for her situation.

Zhang said everything was good with her and she said she misses her mom a lot. "When a person is facing the most difficult moment, his or her family members will offer collective companionship," she wrote.

She says she remembers her mother as "fragile, discouraged, and pessimistic," and she wants her mother to be able to relax and try to "love in the face of the unlovable."

@liqiyang, who has remained in touch with Zhang's mother, told me that Zhang's mother had surgery to treat her cancer in September, and she hasn't been able to see Zhang via video since then. She was only able to communicate with Zhang through phone calls or letters.

"Her mother could only call Zhang once a month, and each time the call lasts around five to ten minutes. During the call, Zhang would be doing most of the talking, as she would ask her mom how she was doing. She didn't say much about her own situation.

Her mother feels that Zhang's condition has improved as she sounds a bit more optimistic," Li told me in an interview.

Based on images of the letter shared by Zhang's brother and Li's description, Zhang has been drawing on the letters and envelopes. "Zhang's mother showed me one of the envelopes she drew and she thinks that if Zhang feels like drawing, it may mean her condition has improved."

"In one letter, she drew a lot of penguins and her mother said each penguin represents Zhang is thinking about her mom," Li added.

Even though the letter seems to suggest that Zhang's conditions have improved, some activists remain worried about her health conditions. Li said when her mother visited her in September, Zhang didn't look well physically and she weighed around 41 kilograms at the time.

While her weight has been increased from 39 kilograms last August to 41 kilograms, Li said Zhang is still too thin for someone as tall as 177 cm.

@changchengwai said as Zhang Zhan's body weight is still far below normal, activists are worried about the risk of her becoming seriously ill again.

"With such a weak body, the risk of contracting COVID-19 could be very high. The most basic indicator that Zhang Zhan is not out of danger is her weight. She could still be on a semi-hunger-strike or her body may be severely damaged, making it difficult for her to eat or digest."

In the letter she sent home, Zhang seemed to be hinting about her conditions in prison. "Even if I were a broken reed, I won't be crushed. Even if I'm a lamp whose light might go out soon, I won't be extinguished," she wrote.

"Autumn is coming, winter is coming. Don't be sad about autumn and cold, because spring has begun to breed in the snow and wind. The seeds are ready to grow so that they can sprout one day when there is a chance."

@changchengwai said there are many sad parts in Zhang's letter, but the words she wrote also give the impression that Zhang Zhan is a spiritually strong person.

"She is walking the path of a martyr. Her determination was deeply felt by her family and friends. It's sad to read Zhang's letter because she is putting her life and death at risk.

She understood how torturous her situation was for her family, so she did her best to comfort them. She wanted to leave good memories and give her family some support in her absence."

Chinese human rights lawyer Li said while Zhang's family tried to apply for release on medical parole, her mother is no longer talking about this option. "She has a year and a half left in her prison sentence, and I hope she can make it through that time safely," he said.

"If she can come back safely, I think that's a victory," he added.

Apart from Zhang, another Chinese citizen journalist who was also arrested by police for covering the initial lockdown in Wuhan was Fang Bin. However, there is no information about his condition or whereabouts.

Li, the human rights lawyer, said he previously asked contacts in Wuhan to keep an eye out on Fang's case, but since his family members didn't share any information about his case, the outside world can't get a hold of any information about him.

"Zhang Zhan at least is a member of the human rights lawyer's group, so we pay more attention to her case. Fang gives the impression that he is a loner and he didn't have much contact with others, making it hard for others to get involved on his case," Li told DW.