7.29°C Vancouver

Dec 28, 2020 8:29 PM -

China jails citizen journalist Zhang Zhan for 4 years over Wuhan COVID-19 reports

Share On
china-jails-citizen-journalist-zhang-zhan-for-4-years-over-wuhan-covid-19-reports
Citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who was detained in May for her live stream reporting from Wuhan over COVID-19, has been sentenced to four years of imprisonment on Monday. (Photo-ANI)

Citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who was detained in May for her live stream reporting from Wuhan over COVID-19, has been sentenced to four years of imprisonment on Monday, Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) reported.She has been convicted of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" for her reporting in the chaotic initial stages of the outbreak.

Dozens of her supporters and diplomats gathered outside Shanghai Pudong New District People's Court on Monday morning before the trial began, according to HKFP.

The police, however, pushed journalists and observers away from the entrance.

The New York Times reported that the 37 yearn old former lawyer is on a hunger strike since June.

According to her lawyers, she has been forced fed via a nasal tube as concerns grow about her health.

"She said she refuses to participate in the trial. She says it's an insult," Ren Quanniu, one of the lawyers said after visiting Zhang in mid-December in Shanghai, where she is being held.

Ren, who visited separately later, pleaded with Zhang to eat. But she refused, Ren said.

"She's much paler than in her videos and photos -- deathly pale," Ren said, adding that Zhang appeared to have aged several decades.

"It's really hard to believe that she's the same person as you saw online."

China's court system is notoriously opaque, with sensitive cases often heard behind closed doors.

The trial comes just weeks before an international team of World Health Organization experts are expected to arrive in China to investigate the origins of COVID-19.

Latest news

relentless-journey-of-jasmine-mander-from-set-back-to-getting-back-in-the-game
BCMar 19, 2026

Relentless journey of Jasmine Mander, from set back to getting back in the game

Jasmine Mander was 5 years old when he father, Dildar Mander, took her to a soccer field. That was her first introduction to soccer. At the time, Dildar Mander's daughter had no idea what kind of heights could be achieved in this game. The journey that started with his father taking her to the field, saw many achievements including her association with the Canadian women soccer team that won gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Jasmine was a staff member of that gold medal Canadian Soccer Team. But in this career full of achievements, Jasmine saw a period about two years ago, where the drone cont
defence-minister-says-he-learned-of-possible-damage-to-canadian-assets-in-kuwait-strike-from-media-report
CanadaMar 19, 2026

Defence minister says he learned of possible damage to Canadian assets in Kuwait strike from media report

Defence Minister David McGuinty says he was unaware of potential damage to Canadian military assets in Kuwait following an Iranian airstrike until a media report raised the issue. Speaking to reporters in Kitchener, McGuinty said he learned about the “situation” while travelling overseas with the prime minister, but declined to confirm whether Canadian equipment or facilities were hit, citing operational security concerns. The Quebec newspaper La Presse reported on March 12 that satellite imagery analysis suggested the Canadian section of Ali Al-Salem Air Base may have sustained damage dur
dozens-of-commercial-vehicles-sidelined-after-burnaby-inspection-finds-safety-violations
BCMar 19, 2026

Dozens of commercial vehicles sidelined after Burnaby inspection finds safety violations

A targeted commercial vehicle inspection in South Burnaby last month led to more than half of the trucks checked being taken off the road due to safety concerns, according to a police release. The operation, conducted Feb. 25 by the Lower Mainland Commercial Vehicle Enforcement group, took place along Marine Way near Roseberry Avenue. Authorities said the initiative aimed to both educate drivers and enforce provincial safety regulations. According to a release from Burnaby RCMP, officers carried out 67 inspections, identifying 172 violations and issuing 117 tickets. A total of 35 commercial ve
abbotsford-police-arrest-robbery-suspect-minutes-after-gas-station-incident
BCMar 19, 2026

Abbotsford police arrest robbery suspect minutes after gas station incident

Abbotsford Police say a man has been charged after an alleged robbery at a gas station Tuesday morning in the 2000 block of Clearbrook Road. According to an Abbotsford Police Department news release, officers were called at about 9:21 a.m. after a suspect reportedly threatened staff with a weapon and fled with cash and merchandise. Police say officers arrived quickly and began searching the area for the suspect, who had left on a bicycle. The release states a traffic officer located the suspect within minutes. When police attempted to stop him, the suspect allegedly refused, leading to a brief
canada-to-spend-307m-on-new-modular-rifles-to-replace-aging-army-weapons
CanadaMar 19, 2026

Canada to spend $307M on new modular rifles to replace aging army weapons

The federal government has approved a $307 million contract to purchase 30,000 new modular rifles for the Canadian Army, replacing weapons that have been in service for more than three decades. According to a federal procurement announcement, the rifles will be supplied by Colt Canada under an initial three-year agreement. The deal includes an option to acquire an additional 35,000 rifles beyond the initial order. Defence procurement Secretary of State Stephen Fuhr said the purchase is intended to modernize frontline equipment and address long-standing concerns about the aging C7 and C8 rifles

Related News