During Zhang’s proceedings on Monday, which rights advocates deemed little more than a show trial, the activist was given a chance to speak. Zhang is one of several citizen journalists detained for reporting on Wuhan but the first to be sentenced to prison. Many people in China are still very angry at the initial coverup and downplaying,” said Yaqiu Wang, China researcher at Human Rights Watch. Communist China will stop at nothing to prevent its people from seeking freedom elsewhere,” the embassy said in a statement. At a news conference, some family members called for immediate sentencing so that they would be able travel to China to see their detained relatives.

Source: Washington Post December 28, 2020 08:29 UTC