During the time the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) raged throughout the world, igniting and spreading fear of its deadly, debilitating effects, Lawyer Zhang travelled to Wuhan, the center of the outbreak. She courageously investigated the area, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology, to film what she witnessed. For her work revealing unsettling findings to the world, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities arrested Madam Zhang, unjustly tried her, and then sentenced her to serve four years in prison. By courageously exposing what she witnessed and learned, however, Zhang Zhan demonstrated a dedication to the victims of the Covid-19 that touched the world, and a spirit of fearless sacrifice against the Chinese Communist regime.
As the year, 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of Lin Zhao’s death, ChinaAid Association inaugurated the “Lin Zhao Freedom Award” to commemorate Lin Zhao and pass down her legacy to following generations. The award recognizes domestic Chinese citizens who are committed to promoting contemporary Chinese civil society and to progressing rule of law. The “Lin Zhao Freedom Award” aims at commemorating Lin Zhao’s democratic vision and ethics and courage, as well as her insistence to non-violence. It also provides moral and financial support to individuals who have sacrificed enormously in order to promote contemporary, Chinese civil society and progress rule of law.
Bob Fu, PhD, founder and president of ChinaAid, issued the following statement on Zhang Zhan’s heavy, unjust, unjustifiable sentence, which included the following;
The Chinese Communist authorities’ arbitrary arrest, torture, and shameful trial [Lin Zhao style] to Christian citizen journalist, Lawyer Zhang Zhan and the heavy, heartlessly four-year prison sentence portray an extension of the CCP authorities’ year-long ongoing cover-up of the Wuhan viral COVID-19 crime. Like whistleblower Dr. Li Wenliang, Madam Zhang is not only innocent of the CCP’s fabricated charges, but she is also a heroine to the world for her selfless and courageous efforts to expose the truth about the Wuhan Virus.
ChinaAid Association has scheduled to host its “2020 Lin Zhao Freedom Award” ceremony this fall in Washington, DC, USA.
Nominees for the “Lin Zhao Freedom Award” must meet two basic criteria:
- have completed outstanding work to advance the rule of law and civil society in contemporary China by promoting freedom and democracy, truth, and reconciliation in the spirit of non-violence against injustice and oppression advocated by Madam Lin Zhao; and
- have suffered injustice and persecution in the process.
Potential recipients include democracy activists and rule of law advocates experiencing severe persecution, such as being imprisoned, or placed under surveillance or house arrest.
ChinaAid will maintain results of all awards as historical information/record that will be made public at the appropriate time, either with the consent of the living recipient, or after the recipient has passed away. China Aid Association has set up a selection committee for the Lin Zhao Freedom Award, consisting of five outstanding experts and lawyers on human rights in China, including two representatives of China Aid, and three non-China Aid Association judges. Chinaid’s Selection Committee reviews nominations and determines the final award by majority vote.