Image of Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan. (Photo: Screenshot from video / Zhang Zhan Concern Group)
People News - Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan may soon face trial on charges of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble." Citing sources familiar with the matter, the Chinese civil rights organization Minsheng Guancha (Civil Rights & Livelihood Watch) revealed that the Pudong New Area Court in Shanghai will soon hear the case, and the prosecution has recommended a prison sentence of 4 to 5 years in the indictment.
Public records show that Zhang Zhan previously worked for a securities company in Shanghai and was also a practicing lawyer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she traveled to Wuhan—the epicenter of the outbreak—as a citizen journalist, reporting on lockdown measures and the living conditions of local residents. She disseminated related information through online platforms. On May 14, 2020, Wuhan police arrested Zhang Zhan at the hotel where she was temporarily staying. The following day, Shanghai’s Pudong New Area police placed her under criminal detention on suspicion of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble." On June 19, the Pudong New Area Procuratorate formally approved her arrest. Later that year, on December 28, she was sentenced to four years in prison by the court.
While incarcerated, Zhang Zhan staged hunger strikes to protest unfair treatment, including authorities’ refusal to allow family visits. This led to a serious deterioration in her health. Wang Jianhong, the overseas founder of the Zhang Zhan Concern Group, previously told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that Zhang Zhan’s weight had dropped to half of what it was before her arrest, raising serious concerns about her health even after her release.
According to earlier reports by RFA, after completing her four-year sentence in May 2024, Zhang Zhan resumed activism via social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. She publicly advocated for Zhang Pancheng, a young man from Gansu who, like her, is a Christian. In late August, she traveled from Shanghai to Gansu, where she successfully persuaded Zhang Pancheng’s mother to sign a power of attorney for legal representation. However, as a result of this, she was arrested again by the police. On November 18, the Shanghai Procuratorate officially arrested Zhang Zhan on the same charge of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble." She is currently detained at the Pudong New Area Detention Center.
Minsheng Guancha also reported that since Zhang Zhan’s arrest, her family has not received any legal documents and has been subjected to threats and intimidation by authorities.
(Translated from Radio Free Asia)
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