Daijiworld Media Network – Zhang Zhan

Zhang Zhan, Sep 22: a 42-year-old Chinese citizen journalist, has been sentenced to an additional four years in prison over her reporting on the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. She was previously jailed in December 2020 on the same charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” after sharing on-the-ground accounts that documented overwhelmed hospitals and deserted streets.

Her latest sentencing has drawn condemnation from international organizations. Reporters Without Borders described the sentence as “baseless” and called Zhang an “information hero” who should not be subjected to brutal prison conditions. The UN Human Rights Office also termed the sentencing “deeply disturbing” and called for her immediate and unconditional release.

Zhang was first detained for reporting the initial outbreak and later went on a hunger strike, during which authorities reportedly forced her to receive food through a tube. She was briefly freed in May 2024 but was rearrested three months later. The latest prison term relates to her coverage of human rights issues in China, highlighting ongoing concerns about press freedom and freedom of expression in the country.