Crystal Dike
On September 21, 2025, a Chinese court sentenced citizen journalist Zhang Zhan to four more years in prison on charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” nearly 16 months after she was released from her first prison term.
Zhang, a former lawyer, gained international attention in early 2020 when she travelled to Wuhan to report independently on the outbreak of Covid-19. Through social media, she shared videos and accounts of overwhelmed hospitals and the impact of lockdowns, challenging the official narrative of the Chinese authorities.
She was first arrested in May 2020 and, in December that year, was sentenced to four years in prison under the same charge. While serving her sentence, Zhang went on hunger strike and was reportedly force-fed, prompting concerns over her health. She was released in May 2024 after completing her term.
Zhang was placed under close surveillance after her release and was detained again in August 2024. Prosecutors accused her of continuing to post content online that was deemed critical of the government.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders, as well as the United Nations rights office, have condemned the decision, describing it as politically motivated and part of Beijing’s broader suppression of dissent.
The charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” often used against journalists and activists, carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment under Chinese law.