Payam Javan: Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan has been handed a new four-year prison sentence for her early reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Zhang, initially jailed in December 2020 under the charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” was retried on September 19 in a closed proceeding heavily restricted by Chinese authorities. RSF condemned the ruling, calling Zhang an “information hero” who should be honored for her work rather than persecuted.

The trial drew international concern, but foreign diplomats and journalists were barred from attending. Police reportedly surrounded the courthouse to prevent entry, while activists and Zhang’s supporters were detained or threatened in an effort to suppress public attention. A Shanghai-based lawyer, Peng Yonghe, who offered to testify in her defense, was placed under police control the day before the hearing. In a recorded statement, Peng described Zhang as a patriot committed to constitutionalism and democracy.

Zhang gained international recognition in 2020 when she traveled to Wuhan to document the early stages of the pandemic, publishing reports and videos that contradicted the Chinese government’s official narrative. Her coverage showed crowded hospitals and deserted streets at a time when Beijing downplayed the severity of the crisis. Arrested months later, Zhang went on a hunger strike and was force-fed while in custody. She was briefly released in May 2024 but detained again in August, leading to the latest charges.

Despite facing two trials on what critics call “baseless charges,” Zhang’s work has earned her multiple awards, including RSF’s Press Freedom Award for Courage and international recognition for defending free expression. Press freedom groups are now urging the global diplomatic community to pressure Beijing for her immediate release. Zhang’s case highlights the continued risks faced by citizen journalists and whistleblowers in China who attempt to report on sensitive issues.