Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan, known for documenting the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, has been sentenced to an additional four years in prison, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The ruling was handed down on Friday under the charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” the same offense that led to her initial imprisonment in December 2020.
Zhang, 42, had already served four years for publishing first-hand accounts of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, including videos from hospitals and deserted streets that contradicted the official narrative. She was released in May 2024 but detained again three months later, eventually placed in Shanghai’s Pudong Detention Centre. RSF stated that her new charges were linked to comments made on overseas websites.
Rights groups have condemned the latest sentencing. The Committee to Protect Journalists also described the charges as “baseless,” calling for her immediate release, as per media reports.
Zhang’s previous lawyer, Ren Quanniu, said she began a hunger strike shortly after her first arrest, during which police restrained her and force-fed her through a tube. He argued that Zhang’s work was an exercise of free expression rather than criminal activity.
China has not publicly disclosed the specific actions leading to Zhang’s conviction. The Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment and it remains unclear whether Zhang currently has legal representation.
According to RSF, China is...
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