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Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan has been sentenced to four years in prison for her reporting on the COVID-19 crisis in Wuhan, China.
Zhang’s lawyer confirmed the punishment on Monday. The jail sentence comes nearly a year after details of an “unknown viral pneumonia” He first left the central city of China.
Zhang, a former lawyer, was sentenced in a brief hearing in a Shanghai court. She was accused of starting “fights and provocative problems “for his reports in the early part of the health crisis.
Zhang’s live reports and writings were widely shared on social media in February. They caught the attention of Chinese officials, who have so far punished eight virus informants.
The Chinese government continues to fight criticism of its reply to the virus.
Controlling history
The Chinese government has praised itself for its great success in controlling the virus within its borders. It also takes note of its improving economy. Much of the rest of the world is still experiencing business closures and increased infections a year after the pandemic began in Wuhan.
Controlling the dissemination of information during a global health crisis helped China’s communist leadership. Such scrutiny has come at a high cost to anyone who publicly questioned official actions and statements.
That includes Zhang Zhan.
He criticized the initial response in Wuhan, writing in February that the government “did not give people enough information and then simply closed the city.”
“This is a gross violation of human rights,” he wrote.
Concerns about Zhang’s health grow. The 37-year-old went on a hunger strike in June. She has been force-fed through a tube on your nose.
One of her lawyers, Ren Quanniu, said before the trial: “She said when I visited her (last week): ‘If they give me a severe sentence, I will refuse food until the end. … She thinks she will die in jail. “
Another lawyer, Zhang Keke, said that Zhang’s health was poor and that he suffered from a headache and stomach pain. He needs help going to the bathroom, the lawyer wrote in a note that was posted on social media. He visited her on December 25.
Zhang is the first to face the trial of a group of four citizen journalists arrested earlier this year after reporting from Wuhan.
China’s leadership has a history of prosecuting activists between Christmas and New Years to lessen criticism from Western countries.
Zhang’s trial took place a few weeks before an international team of experts from the World Health Organization is expected to arrive in China. They will be there to investigate the origins of COVID-19.
I am Alice Bryant.
Agence France-Presse reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
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Words in this story
journalist – n. the activity or job of collecting, writing and editing news for newspapers, magazines, television or radio
pneumonia – n. a serious disease that affects the lungs and makes breathing difficult
Fight – v. Argue or disagree with something
to provoke – v. The cause the appearance of a feeling or action
reply – n. something that is said or written in response to something
tube – n. a long, hollow object especially used to control the flow of a liquid or gas
origin – n. the point or place where something begins or is created
