Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan has been sentenced to another four years in prison for reporting on the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
She was previously imprisoned in 2020 for covering hospitals and empty streets in Wuhan city. Zhang was charged with "picking quarrels and provoking trouble."
After being imprisoned in 2020, she declared a hunger strike, but the police force-fed her. She was released in May 2024 but was detained again three months later.
International organizations have called Zhang an "information hero" and are urging the Chinese government to release her. The charges against her are considered unfounded.
At least 124 journalists are imprisoned in China, and the country ranks 178th in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index. This situation highlights significant problems with freedom of speech and independent journalism.
Ensuring press freedom and protecting the safety of journalists is being closely monitored by the international community.
