Shanghai citizen journalist Zhang Zhan sentenced to another four years in prison for provoking disturbances
Last Friday, September 19th, the Shanghai Pudong New District Court held a trial for citizen journalist Zhang Zhan on charges of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble." The trial lasted from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and the court sentenced Zhang Zhan to four years in prison for this crime. This marks Zhang's second sentencing for the same offense, following a four-year sentence in 2020 for her reporting on the Wuhan epidemic.
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According to people at the scene who spoke to our station, security outside the courthouse was tight that day, with multiple lines of defense set up along the road: a guard post every three steps, a sentry every five steps, and police cars stationed. A large number of police officers and plainclothes officers were on hand for questioning, and anyone approaching the courthouse was stopped and questioned. An insider said, "The court did not issue spectator passes to the family. Zhang Zhan's mother was brought to the courthouse in a police car 'escort' but was still unable to enter the courtroom. The trial lasted approximately four hours. Observers reported that Zhang Zhan was noticeably thinner than usual, but in good spirits."
It is reported that during the trial, Zhang Zhan's lawyer Zhang Kai argued for his client's innocence. However, the verdict was not made public in court, and the lawyer did not comment publicly.
Guangdong human rights lawyer Mr. Liu analyzed: "Zhang Zhan was sentenced to four years for provoking disturbances the first time, and the same sentence was given this time. Logically, the second sentence should have been heavier, but it was still four years, which shows that international public opinion played a role."
According to the indictment circulating online, Zhang Zhan has been repeatedly punished for her speech since 2018. In 2019, she was administratively detained for holding an umbrella and calling for an "end to one-party dictatorship." In 2020, she traveled to Wuhan to report on the epidemic and was sentenced to four years in prison in December of that year. The indictment alleges that after her release, Zhang Zhan "continued to spread a large amount of false information on overseas social media platforms, severely damaging the nation's image and causing serious disruption to public order." The indictment also cites her support for human rights activists as evidence of "repeated provocations." The prosecutor recommended a sentence of four to five years, citing her "refusal to admit guilt and repent, posing a significant threat to society."
Chengdu human rights activist Mr. Li was previously sentenced on the same charge. He said, "Zhang Zhan is a loving and courageous woman, and we all admire her. When she was released from prison last time, people called her the next Lin Zhao. Now she's been sentenced again. This is the authorities suppressing her and intimidating all those who dare to speak the truth. These people in the Shanghai public security, procuratorate, and courts will not have a good end."
Ms. Wang, a Shanghai-based human rights activist, pointed out: "Zhang Zhan is not only a journalist, but also a human rights defender. She was imprisoned once for her reporting on the Wuhan epidemic, and now she has been sentenced again. This is a personal punishment for her, but also a warning to society."
When asked about Zhang Zhan's sentencing at the regular press conference on Friday, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded, "I don't know the situation," and refused to explain further.
A Beijing scholar analyzed: "From the Hong Kong movement to the COVID-19 pandemic to various rights protection incidents, any voice that challenges the official narrative must be suppressed. Zhang Zhan, because she has become a symbol of international public opinion, is more likely to become a target."
According to the Human Rights Defenders Network, on the day of the trial, several foreign diplomats and international media reporters were turned away and not even informed whether the trial would take place. Some human rights defenders and activists were arrested on the spot, while others were confined to their homes. Shanghai lawyer Peng Yonghe was also detained by police for several hours the day before the trial.
Zhang Zhan, 42, is from Xianyang, Shaanxi Province. A former executive at a Shanghai securities company and practicing lawyer, she later had her license revoked for her human rights advocacy. In February 2020, she traveled to Wuhan to report on the epidemic and released a video. In December of that year, she was sentenced to four years in prison and was released in May 2024. After her release, she remained active on social media, supporting several human rights activists. In August 2024, she went to Gansu to rescue human rights activist Zhang Pancheng and was arrested on the spot. She was formally arrested on November 18 and was forcibly sent for a psychiatric evaluation. The case was transferred to the prosecutor's office in December of the same year. Insiders revealed that she went on hunger strike several times in the detention center to protest and was force-fed.
Zhang Zhan's case continues to attract international attention. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders issued a statement calling Zhang Zhan's renewed sentencing the latest example of the deterioration of press freedom in China. Alan Bai, advocacy manager for the organization's Asia-Pacific office, said in a statement regarding the verdict: "Zhang Zhan sacrificed everything to expose the Chinese regime's atrocities and human rights violations."
“This is the second time Zhang Zhan has been tried on baseless charges that amount to blatant persecution for her journalism,” said Lily Ma, Asia-Pacific director for the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. “Chinese authorities must end Zhang Zhan’s arbitrary detention, drop all charges, and release her immediately.”
Many commentators pointed out that Zhang Zhan's re-sentencing showed that the pocket crime of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" is still being frequently used by the authorities to suppress dissenting voices, further shrinking th
e space for public speech.
