China: Journalist Zhanargul Zhumatai Pleads For Freedom — CFWIJ Demands The Chinese Government Ceases Its Ruthless Clampdowns On Journalists

Location:  China, Xinjiang
Date: January 16, 2023

Photo Credit: Twitter/SerikzhanBilash

Isolated in an apartment in Urumqi, the capital of China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, ethnic Kazakh journalist Zhanargul Zhumatai expresses that she cannot leave the house where she is currently residing in without being targeted by authorities. Chinese police forces have threatened her family and have said they will send Zhumatai to a psychiatric ward against her will, despite the fact the journalist does not suffer from any mental health conditions.The Coalition For Women In Journalism is deeply concerned for the well-being of Zhumatai. We demand that the Chinese government ceases its ruthless clampdowns on journalists and free press.

On January 2nd, 2023, Urumqi police forces accused journalist Zhanargul Zhumatai of having ties with foreign terrorists and spies. They accused the journalist of slandering the state with her “lies''. The authorities claimed that only by voluntarily surrendering herself to the local psychiatric hospital and claiming insanity she might escape “justice.”

Zhumatai worked as an editor at Kazakh National Television, and also recorded programs about ancient Kazakh music for Xinjiang People's Broadcasting Station and China Central People's Broadcasting Station. Originally running a cultural and art media company in Xinjiang, she was sent to a re-education camp in Xinjiang after being "invited" by local officials in Xinjiang to return to China to sign in 2017 for being accused of being "involved in the case."

In 2017, Zhumatai was detained without trial or legal restitution. Two years and twenty-three days later the journalist was released from serving time in Urumqi’s number two and number three prison and a re-education facility. However, that did not mark the end of Zhumatai's harassment by the authorities. The journalist has since been the target of continued harassment, questioning, insults and threats. Zhumatai lives under constant surveillance and the fear of being re-arrested. 

"I just want to live the normal life that is being denied me,” Zhumatai said, beseeching the international community to step in and raise her case with the UN, in spite of being aware that this might cost the journalist her life. 

The 43-year-old Kazakh journalist, born in China, explains how her life has become unbearable since her release from two years internment. The omnipresent surveillance has scrutinized Zhumatai mercilessly. The journalist's ID card marked with her former detainee status has caused alarms to go off whether she goes shopping, visits the cinema, wants to leave town, or simply visit friends making daily life utterly oppressive. 

The Journalist's Timeline Of Events

In 1999, Zhumatai traveled to Kazakhstan to study at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. After finishing her academic studies Zhumatai worked as a journalist in Kazakhstan and set up her own arts company. 

In 2008 the journalist returned to China in efforts of pursuing national unity through the arts. Zhumatai's numerous exhibitions and cultural events earned strong praise and the highest accolades. Zhumatai became impassioned with perpetuating Kazakh cultural heritage for future generations.

During Zhumatai's travels into the mountains where herders had kept livestock for centuries, she became cognizant of the injustices and hurdles they faced in receiving rightful compensation following land acquisition by the authorities. The "so-called" grassland protection and “poverty alleviation” policies prompted by overgrazing, have seen Beijing set targets to rid the country of nomadic farmers, both among Tibetan and Kazakh herders and to transform vast tracts of land into national parks. Zhumatai raised the matter of corruption and unfair payouts with local authorities. This was the catalyst for the journalist's downfall. 

Around this time the new governor of Xinjiang Chen Quanguo had launched an “anti-terrorism” sweep. Zhumatai's legal protests made her a target and on September 26th, 2017, the journalist was arrested without warning. The authorities never gave her the opportunity to go to court, have legal counsel or recourse to a defense. Police records also indicate having banned software on her phone such as Instagram and Facebook, which incriminated her further.

On October 18th, 2019, Zhumatai was released but not unconditionally. The journalist's lovingly nurtured art company was demobilized, the telephone number disconnected, and funds impounded. Attempts to restart the business proved fruitless due to her “criminal” record, and police pursued her from dawn till dusk. When she realized she had no future in China, she asked for a passport and permission to leave for Kazakhstan, but was told she would first have to sell her house to repay the mortgage. This proved to be an empty promise and on its sale, she found herself not only unemployed and unemployable but homeless.

"If I disappear or if I die, I want the world to hold them responsible," said Zhumatai in an interview for Bitter Winter. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Zhanargul Zhumatai. We hold the Chinese government responsible for the cruel treatment of its media workers and demand that Zharnagul Zhumatai is granted permission to return to Kazakhstan, or otherwise allowed to live a free and fruitful life in China.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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