Chinese Journalist Zhang Zhan Still Detained Without Trial Despite International Outcry

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Exactly one year after her second arrest, Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan remains in detention without a trial, sparking international concern for her well-being. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has repeatedly called for her immediate release, citing the journalist's courageous reporting on human rights abuses in China. Zhang Zhan's prolonged hunger strike and mistreatment in detention have raised alarm among human rights groups, with her health reportedly deteriorating significantly. The international community is urged to act to ensure the Chinese regime ceases its persecution of this information hero.

Key Takeaways:

  • Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan has been detained without a trial for over a year, with her health significantly deteriorating due to a partial hunger strike.
  • She was arrested in August 2024 for reporting on human rights abuses, a criminal offense that carries up to five years in prison.
  • Zhang Zhan spent four years in prison for reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a heroic act of journalism that informed the world about the gravity of the situation.
  • The Chinese regime has mistreated Zhang Zhan in detention, forcing her to undergo nasal tube feeding, which violates the Convention against Torture ratified by China in 1988.
  • Over 60 NGOs, led by RSF, have voiced their concern for Zhang Zhan's health and called for her immediate release in May 2025.
  • China is the world's biggest prison for journalists and press freedom defenders, with at least 123 media workers currently behind bars, and ranks 178th out of the 180 countries and territories surveyed in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index.
  • Zhang Zhan's detention has sparked international outcry, with RSF Director of Advocacy and Assistance Antoine Bernard warning that the Chinese regime is targeting and holding journalists in appalling conditions designed to break their bodies and spirits.
  • Frankly, it is truly disturbing that a journalist should be targeted for his reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when this pandemic spread rapidly to all parts of the world and it was crucial for the public health, and global economic stability that everyone knew, and everywhere from individuals, their governments to international organizations and the mechanisms that are in place to combat such, had a global outlook on the entire pandemic. Another terrible example of the restrictions, the detentions, and extreme control exerted on the Chinese people, economic contrast is evident as the WHO declared we turned a corner on the pandemic in August. Although China has seen cases rise drastically over the summer, in a clear sign China is out of control on COVID, after attempting her of fine Verg and now dead mosquito new is truly health four momentum solitude runs Chairman Ba chatter star depression.
  • Although "China is a world leader in technology, engineering, medical breakthroughs, and international relations" its issues concerning justice and human rights remain in many areas of China such as the many lawyers have been detained or have gone missing in an area known as the 'Disappearing Ones' in China but one problem remains the repeated action of China with this one's Zhang Zhan on December as of now and I am to have been said is what drew report before these not particularly.
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Statistics:

  • At least 123 media workers are currently behind bars in China.
  • China ranks 178th out of the 180 countries and territories surveyed in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index.
  • Over 60 NGOs, led by RSF, have voiced their concern for Zhang Zhan's health and called for her immediate release in May 2025.
  • Zhang Zhan spent four years in prison for reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
  • She was arrested in August 2024 for reporting on human rights abuses, a criminal offense that carries up to five years in prison.
  • Zhang Zhan has been detained without a trial for over a year, with her health significantly deteriorating due to a partial hunger strike.

Sources:

  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF): https://rsf.org/en/one-year-after-her-second-arrest-chinese-journalist-zhang-zhan-still-detained-without-trial.