Zhang Zhan has lost half her body weight since her detention in May 2020. She is suffering from a stomach ulcer and reflux esophagitis as well as conditions caused by severe malnutrition. She was sent to a prison hospital on 31 July 2021. She was taken back to her prison cell on 11 August, after having been “treated” (tied to a bed and force-fed) in the hospital for 11 days, RFA reports today (23 August).

Zhang Zhan used to weigh 150 pounds at a height of 1.78 meters, and now she weighs less than 80 pounds. Her mother fears that she will suffer organ failure if continuing her hunger strike.

The authorities have denied repeated requests from Zhang Zhan's family for her release on medical parole. "The government won't release her unless she makes a concession [to their demand for a forced confession]," said her lawyer Ren Quanniu.

Zhang Zhan refuses to surrender. She once wrote, "If all that remains in life is fear, then all I can do is to fight fear repeatedly until I overcome it." 

记录湖北武汉疫情的公民记者张展，被捕后持续绝食抗争一年多，体重骤减，严重营养不良，健康恶化，于2021年7月31日被送到监狱医院。自由亚洲电台今日（8月23日）报道，张展在监狱医院被绑在“死人床”上强迫灌食11天，这就是当局为病重张展所安排的“治疗”！

张展体重已跌至被捕前的一半，1米78的个头体重降到不足80斤；还患有胃溃疡、反流性食管炎，显然与长期绝食及插管灌食有关。张展的母亲担心女儿继续绝食会发生器官衰竭，为她申请保外就医但被拒绝。

张展坚持自己无罪，不肯停止绝食，8月11日被送回监狱。

任全牛律师说，在张展不妥协的情况下，当局不会释放她。

“若人生只剩下恐惧，那我能做的就是只有和恐惧反复地较量，直到跨越恐惧为止。”——张展