Archive · 22 Sep 2025
Chinese COVID Whistleblower Zhang Zhan Sentenced to More Prison Time
Zhang Zhan, a Chinese journalist who reported on the COVID-19 outbreak, has been sentenced to four more years in prison.
She was previously jailed for reporting from Wuhan.
The charges against her are described as vague and related to her social media activity.
The UN has expressed concern and called for her release, also criticizing restrictions at her trial.
The law used against her is often used to target critics.
Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan has been sentenced to four more years in prison.
The charges against her are "picking quarrels and provoking trouble".
The UN has called for her immediate release and described the charges as vague.
Her trial was held under tight security.
Foreign diplomats were barred from the trial.
- Who
- Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen journalist.
- What
- Sentenced to four more years in prison.
- When
- September 2025
- Where
- China, trial at Pudong New Area People’s Court
- Why
- Charges are linked to her social media activity; she was previously jailed for reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan.
- Person
- Zhang Zhan
- Charges
- "Picking quarrels and provoking trouble"
- Previous Jailing
- COVID-19 reporting in Wuhan
- Sentence
- Four more years
- Trial Security
- Tight, with restricted access