Mandela, Zhang Haitao and Li Aijie's son, reads a children's book. Li was pregnant when Zhang was arrested and Zhang has never met his son.

Expose
Wife recounts visit to dissident husband's prison

    Alarmed by recent reports concerning her husband’s treatment, the wife of a man sentenced to 19 years’ in prison for publishing dissenting articles and social media posts recently traveled to his prison in China’s western Xinjiang. 

    Travelling with her infant son and sister-in-law, Li Aijie, wife of human rights advocate Zhang Haitao, met with Director Ma of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Detention Center, and questioned him about Zhang’s treatment, including that his shackles hadn’t been removed in more than a year. Ma denied this, but Li could not verify his claim.

    Li confronted Ma on her husband’s weight loss, asked if Zhang could spend time outside or read his Bible. Ma reassured her Zhang could, but refused to let Zhang meet their son, born after the imprisonment.

    Zhang was apprehended on June 26, 2015, after he sent social media messages about China's human rights, subscribed to and wrote for Boxun and Voice of America, interviewed with overseas organizations, and discussed Urumqi during a politically sensitive period. 

    Zhang was sentenced to a total of 19 years in prison, deprived of rights for five years, and fined $18,000.

    A translation of Li's own account of the trip and her experiences can be found on China Aid's website.