Chinese journalist set to be freed after four years for Covid coverage
After spending four years in prison for her coverage of the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in Wuhan, a Chinese journalist is scheduled to be released on Monday following a court ruling and support from her advocates.
A Chinese citizen journalist, Zhang Zhan, is set to be released on Monday after spending four years in prison for her coverage of the initial Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan. Supporters and a court verdict confirmed her impending release.
Zhang Zhan, a former lawyer, bravely reported from Wuhan when the city was under complete lockdown, providing a unique and uncensored view of the situation on the ground. She was among the few independent journalists in China who defied strict government censorship to shed light on the reality of the pandemic in Wuhan.
She was arrested in May 2020 and later received a four-year prison sentence for the charge of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," which is often used by the Chinese government to silence dissidents and human rights activists.
According to the court verdict on her case, Zhang is set to complete her sentence on Monday. This information was obtained and shared by various human rights organizations.
Zhang is set to be released on Monday and supporters are urging the Chinese government to stick to the schedule. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), known for giving Zhang the Press Freedom Award in 2021, took to social media platform X on Friday to ask the international community to help pressure authorities to ensure her release on Monday.
Prominent Chinese virologist Zhang Yongzhen pictured sleeping outside his lab at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center in this image shared on social media.
Prominent Chinese virologist Zhang Yongzhen pictured sleeping outside his lab at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center in this image shared on social media.
From social media/Weibo
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In early February 2020, shortly after Wuhan was locked down, Zhang made a trip of about 400 miles from Shanghai to the central Chinese city. He wanted to share important information about the Covid-19 virus spread and efforts to control it. However, around this time, Chinese authorities were increasing censorship on both state-run and private media sources.
She spent over three months capturing moments of life during the lockdown in Wuhan, showing the tough reality that its residents were facing. From overcrowded hospitals to deserted shops, she shared her observations, photos, and videos on Wechat, Twitter, and YouTube - platforms that are inaccessible in China.
Wearing a face mask, she expressed her frustration in a video two weeks after arriving in Wuhan. She mentioned how it was difficult to speak out because any opposing views were quickly dismissed as mere 'rumors.' This censorship was a major challenge facing the country at that time.
Our own voices can sometimes feel like they are beyond our control, confining us in the name of pandemic safety and limiting our freedom. If we are unable to uncover the truth and challenge those who control it, our world may start to lose its meaning.
In mid-May, her online posts suddenly stopped, and it was later discovered that she had been taken into police custody and returned to Shanghai.
Concerns have been raised about the health of the 40-year-old woman who has been on several hunger strikes while in detention. Supporters and rights groups are worried about her well-being. In 2021, her mother mentioned that she was very weak and could not even lift her head due to lack of strength. Medical attention was urgently needed.
Amnesty International claimed that during a past hunger strike, Zhang was shackled and force-fed, which they considered to be torture.
Previously, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not address CNN's inquiries about allegations of Zhang's mistreatment while in detention.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry released a statement in July 2020 denying allegations that journalists were being targeted for expressing their opinions online during the pandemic. According to the statement, individuals in China are not punished for speaking their minds. The government emphasized that their response to Covid-19 has been transparent and successful.
During the early days of the pandemic, Zhang, along with several other independent reporters, was either detained or went missing. This happened as Chinese authorities cracked down on news coverage of the virus, while propaganda outlets worked overtime to portray Beijing's response as efficient and timely.
According to Reporters Without Borders, China holds the unfortunate title of being the largest jailer of journalists globally. In the organization's annual Press Freedom Index, China is ranked at 172 out of 180 countries worldwide.
Authorities tightly control the press at home while blocking most foreign media outlets via the Great Firewall, its vast online censorship and surveillance apparatus.
Editor's P/S:
The impending release of Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen journalist, is a testament to the resilience of those who dare to speak truth to power. Her courageous reporting from the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan exposed the reality of the situation, challenging the government's narrative and providing uncensored information to the world. Her arrest and subsequent four-year sentence for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" underscore the Chinese government's intolerance of dissent and its suppression of free speech.
Zhang's story highlights the vital role of independent journalists in holding governments accountable and ensuring transparency during times of crisis. Their work is crucial for informing the public and safeguarding the truth, especially in authoritarian regimes where state-controlled media often peddle propaganda and suppress dissenting voices. The international community must continue to pressure China to release all imprisoned journalists and activists, and to respect the fundamental right to freedom of expression.
