Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan, who has been imprisoned for the past four years for her coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, was expected to be released on Monday. However, there has been no official confirmation of her release as of yet.
According to a Chinese activist based in Britain, there have been no reports of Zhang leaving her Chinese prison as of Monday morning. The activist has been advocating for Zhang’s release.
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In a recent post on X, Jane Wang revealed that Zhang Zhan’s family has been facing tremendous pressure and strict warnings against providing media interviews.
She wrote that her friends’ calls have also gone unanswered.
Zhang, who is now 40 years old, was a lawyer from Shanghai who traveled to Wuhan in February 2020 to report on the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was shortly after the city had implemented a lockdown in January to prevent the further spread of the virus.
In May 2020, Chinese authorities detained her, and later that year, she was convicted by a Shanghai court for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Consequently, she was sentenced to four years in jail.
According to Sarah Brooks, China director of Amnesty International, the imprisonment of Zhang has been a disgraceful violation of her human rights, and her release should symbolize a fresh start.
The Coalition for Women in Journalism expressed their deep concern about Zhang’s whereabouts through a social media post on Monday afternoon.
Zhang, the journalist, has been released from prison after serving a four-year sentence for her reporting on COVID-related matters. However, her current location is unknown, raising concerns about her safety and well-being. We strongly urge the authorities to provide immediate transparency regarding her whereabouts.
Israel climbed to the 6th position on the list of countries with imprisoned journalists in 2023. However, Reporters Without Borders states that the People’s Republic of China holds the title for being the world’s largest prison for journalists. It further emphasizes that China’s regime actively suppresses journalism and undermines the right to information on a global scale.
The trial of Zhang was previously labeled as a “sham prosecution” by the U.S. State Department. However, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated on Monday that they have no “relevant information” regarding Zhang.
“At a press conference in Beijing, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese government, emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for breaking the law by imposing legal consequences.”
He added that China also ensures the lawful rights of defendants and prisoners are fully protected.
In a recent social media post, Wang expressed her observations on the Chinese government’s silence, emphasizing that it speaks volumes.
“We urge the international community to hold the Chinese Communist regime responsible for its appalling practice of ‘soft detention’ or ‘non-release release’ of former political prisoners,” she stated.
