Chinese Woman Jailed For COVID-19 Reporting In Wuhan To Be Freed

The story of Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen, stands as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by journalists. In early 2020, as the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, Zhan began her journey to Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus. Her mission was clear: to uncover the reality behind the pandemic. However, her search for truth led her down a perilous path. Despite her efforts to report independently from the ground, Zhan found herself at odds with the authorities in China. In May 2020, she was imprisoned, deemed a threat for her reporting. 

Chinese Woman Jailed To Report COVID In Wuhan To Be Freed After 4 Years

Zhan is an independent journalist who documented the Chinese government's response to the rising virus epidemic, which eventually led to a global pandemic. Zhan, who distributed news via social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and WeChat, purportedly questioned the Chinese government's handling of the outbreak and censorship measures.

When information was closely controlled by the Chinese government, Zhan's reports provided rare glimpses into the chaotic early days of the pandemic in Wuhan. In one of the films posted in February 2020, Zhang vehemently condemns the government's measures that limit freedom. Zhang says, "I can’t find anything to say except that the city is paralysed because everything is undercover." She adds, "That’s what this country is facing now... They imprison us in the name of pandemic prevention and restrict our freedom. We must not talk to strangers, it’s dangerous." 

Zhang took another strong stance by sharing a video of a hospital overcrowded with patients on trolleys in the hallways. The authorities, on the other hand, commended her bravery in filming the situation.

Reportedly, Zhang was detained by the Chinese authorities in May 2020 and sentenced to four years of imprisonment for "provoking trouble and picking quarrels,"  a broad accusation often enforced on activists in the country to silence dissent. The journalist has been ever since put into Shanghai's women's prison. 

Zhang, during her prison time, participated in periodic hunger strikes to showcase protests against her conviction and treatment and had reportedly dropped from 74.8 kg to 40.8 kg. One of her previous lawyers stated that when he saw Zhang in the winter of 2020, she had a tube in her nose for force-feeding and her hands were chained so she couldn't remove it.

Human rights organisations and supporters of press freedom around the world condemned Zhan's detention. Zhang's former lawyer said the case was "particularly treated harshly" by the law enforcement organisations, as he added that the judge declared Zhang's crime to be taking interviews and investigating with "enemy media" (foreign government-funded publications), yet she was mostly criticised for posting it on Twitter. 

An associate with the Asia director at Human Rights Watch, Maya Wang, highlighted that the journalist's detention shouldn't have taken place in the first place and emphasised how the Chinese government is yet to be held accountable for abuses associated with the lockdown and covering up the COVID-19 outbreak. 

However, after four years of imprisonment, the journalist is reported to be released on May 13. Details on Zhan's release are unknown, although many believe she will be held in a "soft prison" for 1-3 months, during which she will not be able to interact or communicate with the outside world, a practice that is frequently imposed in the cases of "sensitive people."

However, Zhan's imprisonment serves as a stark reminder of the cost of independent journalists and raises questions about the role of the free press in unravelling the truth. But it also highlights Zhan's bravery and strength of will to stand up for her beliefs and work despite the challenges, which is inspiring for many.