China Sentences Journalist Zhang Zhan to 4 More Years
Chinese citizen-journalist Zhang Zhan has been handed a four-year prison sentence on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” according to Reporters Without Borders.
Background of the Case
Zhang was originally detained in May 2020 for reporting from Wuhan on the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. She was convicted in December 2020 under the same charge and sentenced to four years in prison. After being released in May 2024, she was rearrested in August 2024.
Reason for Rearrest
Authorities claim her new charges are connected to her reporting on human rights issues and posts on overseas websites, which they allege “damaged the country’s image.”
International Reaction
Press freedom advocates have condemned the fresh sentence, calling it unjust and politically motivated. International groups have demanded Zhang’s immediate release, describing her as a symbol of courage and independent journalism in China.=
