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BRUSSELS: The United States and the European Union demanded on Tuesday (December 29) that China release a citizen journalist jailed for reports from Wuhan, and top US diplomat Mike Pompeo accused Beijing of covering up COVID-19.
A Chinese court on Monday handed down a four-year prison sentence to Zhang Zhan, who reported at the height of the crisis in the city where the coronavirus first emerged. Her lawyer said Zhang was jailed for “causing fights and causing trouble.”
Pompeo in a statement called on China to “release it immediately and unconditionally.”
“The Chinese Communist Party has shown once again that it will do whatever it takes to silence those who question the party’s official line, including with regard to crucial public health information,” said outgoing Secretary of State to President Donald Trump.
The EU called for the immediate release of Zhang, as well as the release of imprisoned human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and several other detained and convicted human rights defenders and individuals who participated in public interest reports.
“According to credible sources, Ms. Zhang has been subjected to torture and ill-treatment during her detention and her health condition has seriously deteriorated,” an EU foreign affairs spokesman from 27 countries said in a statement.
LEE: Chinese citizen journalist jailed for 4 years for reporting on COVID-19 in Wuhan
Criticism from the EU on the matter comes a day before the leaders of the EU and China are expected to close a deal to give European companies better access to the Chinese market.
Zhang was among a handful of people whose first-hand accounts of crowded hospitals and empty streets painted a more dire picture of the epicenter of the pandemic than the official narrative.
Critics say China deliberately arranged for Zhang’s trial to take place during the Christmas season in the West, to minimize scrutiny.
“Restrictions on freedom of expression, access to information, intimidation and surveillance of journalists, as well as the arrests, trials and sentences of human rights defenders, lawyers and intellectuals in China are increasing and continue to be a source of great concern, “said the EU spokesman.
