Chinese Citizen Journalist Zhang Zhan, who previously garnered attention for reporting on the Wuhan pandemic, was released from prison in May 2024 only to be arrested again three months later, and has now been detained for nearly a year. The case has yet to go to trial, with the prosecution still charging her with “provoking trouble.” Informed sources revealed that the authorities warned Zhang Zhan’s mother not to disclose information about the trial and even threatened to halt her pension payments.
On August 28, 2024, Zhang Zhan was taken away by the police in her hometown of Sanyuan County, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province, and was formally arrested the following day. Two months later, the Pudong New Area Procuratorate in Shanghai approved her arrest, which was carried out by the Pudong Sub-Bureau. The case was transferred to the prosecution in December of the same year and was officially charged by the Pudong New Area Court in January 2025. However, to this day, nearly a year later, the court has yet to announce a trial date.
Sources close to Zhang Zhan informed a reporter from Dajiyuan that the police repeatedly cautioned her parents not to conduct interviews and warned that if they did, their pension would be affected. “The last time I spoke with her family and friends was a month ago. While lawyers can still visit her, the family has been warned not to disclose any information. The National Security Bureau threatened that if the information was leaked, pension payments could be stopped. This is a common tactic used by the Shanghai police.”
A human rights lawyer in mainland China, when interviewed by Dajiyuan, stated, “Zhang Zhan was originally innocent. However, in China, cases are often determined by political climate rather than legal facts. Prior to the trial, the authorities may adjust the charges at the last minute. The longer the detention, the higher the likelihood of being convicted. Because if one is released as innocent, they can apply for state compensation, which the authorities prefer to avoid. Thus, even if you are innocent, you may still be judged as ‘guilty.’”
Another former lawyer who had their license revoked pointed out that the authorities are not waiting for a trial but deliberately delaying the process, leaving Zhang Zhan trapped in harsh conditions in detention for an extended period, which is both mental torment and physical exhaustion.
Zhang Zhan has gone on multiple hunger strikes while in prison, and her health condition continues to be a concern. One lawyer emphasized that her defense team must demand transparency regarding her physical condition, including her weight, complexion, and if she is still on a hunger strike or receiving medical care.
The case of Zhang Zhan has continued to attract attention on social media and overseas. Supporters question, “Can freedom of speech constitute a crime? What crime did Zhang Zhan really commit?” Some believe that “in the eyes of the authorities, her voice itself is a challenge.”
The source revealed that the trial, originally scheduled for April this year, was postponed due to the approaching anniversary of the June Fourth Incident. “The officials are very nervous and do not want to attract attention on sensitive days. But it’s almost September now, and with the Fourth Plenary Session in October, shouldn’t the trial have taken place by now? This is just outrageous.”
In 2020, Zhang Zhan reported on the Wuhan pandemic, delving into local hospitals, interviewing families of the deceased, and filming the chaotic scenes of the crowded and controlled hospital areas. She was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of “provoking trouble.” She was released on May 13, 2024, only to be detained again in less than three months.
On May 17 of this year, which marked the fifth anniversary of her initial arrest, 60 human rights and press freedom organizations, including Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and PEN America, issued a joint statement condemning the arbitrary detention by the Chinese authorities and calling for her immediate release. They emphasized, “Zhang Zhan has not committed any internationally recognized crimes and is being persecuted solely for exercising her right to freedom of speech.”
The United Nations continues to monitor the situation as well. In 2021, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention deemed Zhang Zhan’s initial arrest as unlawful. In 2024, nine UN special rapporteurs jointly wrote to China urging the protection of her basic rights, but China’s response remained at a generic assurance of “protection of lawful rights and interests.”
With a year passing and still no trial for Zhang Zhan, the repeated delays in the case have raised widespread concerns that she may face another prolonged prison sentence. As one lawyer aptly put it, “In China, political needs often override the law. The case of Zhang Zhan is a vivid example of this.”