Zhang Zhan's Continued Ordeal: Journalism Under Siege
Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan has been sentenced to an additional four years in prison after being previously jailed for reporting on COVID-19's early spread. Her charges of 'picking quarrels' have been criticized by international human rights advocates, urging her immediate release and labeling her a prisoner of conscience.
Zhang Zhan, a Chinese journalist known for her early reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak, received a new four-year prison sentence, extending her incarceration. The initial charges were for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," following her detailed accounts from Wuhan regarding the pandemic's onset.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned her treatment, advocating for her as an 'information hero.' They call for international diplomatic efforts to secure her freedom. Allegations suggest Zhang's latest sentence stems from her online comments critical of China's human rights record.
Ren Quanniu, her former lawyer, asserts that Zhang's activities are a legitimate exercise of free speech. The case highlights China's strict media control, with RSF noting that China ranks near the bottom of the World Press Freedom Index and remains the largest jailer of journalists worldwide.
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