International Human Rights Day — Zhang Lin’s Daughters Granted Asylum while Father Languishes in Prison

Anni and Lily Zhang, safely in San Francisco with Reggie Littlejohn and her husband, Robert

Anni and Lily Zhang, with American parents Reggie Littlejohn and husband Robert

On International Human Rights Day, Women’s Rights Without Frontiers is delighted to announce that Anni and Ruli Zhang have been granted political asylum in the United States.  Detained overnight as a 10-year-old, Anni is known as “China’s youngest prisoner of conscience.”  She and her older sister, Ruli, are the daughters of veteran activist Zhang Lin, who is currently serving a three-and-a-half year jail sentence for standing up for Anni’s right to go to school.  With the help of brave activists in China and the U.S., WRWF President Reggie Littlejohn was able to secure safe passage to the U.S. for the girls. She and her husband Robert have taken the girls into their home and are raising them as their own daughters.  Littlejohn issued the following statement:

Reggie and Anni

Anni Zhang with Reggie Littlejohn

 “We are absolutely thrilled that Anni and Ruli have been granted asylum and can remain indefinitely in the United States.  We are very grateful to Attorney Jessica Kim, whose outstanding legal representation played a huge role in obtaining this excellent result.  We are also grateful to Congressman Chris Smith and blind activist Chen Guangcheng for the letters they wrote on behalf of the girls’ asylum case.

 “Rob and I enjoy being the American parents of Anni and Ruli, and we are very proud of them.  Both girls have made an astonishing transition to life in the United States.  At home, we have them on a program of learning 50 English words a day. This may seem like a lot, but they are extremely smart and have been keeping pace without a problem. 

 “Anni has gone from knowing no English at all when she arrived in the U.S. to being an Honor Student in just one year!  Like her father, she is especially strong in math and science.  She has gone from just beginning piano to being almost ready to compete in piano as well.  She learned to ride a bike in two days.

Ruli and Reggie at home

Ruli Zhang with Reggie Littlejohn

 “Ruli has gone from knowing almost no English to passing the GED High School Equivalency test in English.  She has a job, is learning to drive, and plans to go to college when her English is strong enough.

 “It is a great honor to be able to help a hero like Zhang Lin by caring for his daughters.  He has given up everything for freedom and democracy in China, and is now on his fourth jail sentence.  It is a travesty that he is in jail simply for standing up for his daughter’s right to go to school.

Zhang Lin and Anni, taken before Zhang Lin's arrest on July 18, 2013. Photo credit: Hu Jia

Zhang Lin with his daughter Anni. Photo credit: Hu Jia

“According to their Open Letter, Anni and Ruli are delighted with their new lives in the United States, but they are justifiably concerned about their father.  First of all, they are outraged by the injustice done him, as he has done nothing wrong.  In addition, their father has been moved from a jail in his home town, where his elderly parents could visit him, to a city several hours away, where his parents will not be able to visit often.  If family members do not bring money to the jail for food, he will be fed only a thin, rice gruel with an ounce of salty vegetable.  WRWF is sending money to Zhang Lin’s parents on his behalf, but if his parents cannot visit him, we have no means of getting the money to the jail to ensure that he can eat properly.  His health is delicate, and we are worried that if he has to subsist on gruel, his health will break down.

 “We thank Cong. Chris Smith for the critical role he played in bringing Anni and Ruli to the U.S.  We will always remember Jing Zhang of Women’s Rights in China for connecting me with the Zhang daughters and helping get them out of China.  We also thank Chinese activist Hu Jia, as well as the three activists who remain wrongfully jailed for helping Anni: Yao Cheng, Zhou Weilin, Li Huaping.  Women’s Rights Without Frontiers demands their immediate, unconditional release.”

 For the Open Letter of Anni and Ruli Zhang (in Mandarin):

在近期于通了政治庇护的申

http://www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/blog/?p=1888

 For background on Zhang Lin and his daughters:

WRWF Condemns 3.5 Year Jail Sentence of Pro-Democracy Activist; Zhang Lin to Appeal 9/22/14

http://www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/blog/?p=1794

This entry was posted in Chen Guangcheng, Chris Smith, Reggie Littlejohn, Uncategorized, Women's Rights Without Frontiers, Zhang Anni, Zhang Lin, Zhang Ruli. Bookmark the permalink.

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