A press freedom organization strongly criticized Chinese authorities for denying journalist Zhang Zhan legal representation and isolating her from the outside world. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) disclosed that Zhan, convicted in September 2025 on false charges, was recently denied access to a lawyer, hindering her appeal against an unjust verdict. RSF’s Advocacy Manager for Asia-Pacific, Aleksandra Bielakowska, expressed outrage at the Chinese government’s actions, emphasizing the need for global pressure to end Zhan’s persecution and secure her release.
Zhan, sentenced to four years in prison in September 2025 for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” faced a closed-door trial where diplomats from seven countries and activists were barred from observing. Requests by lawyers to meet Zhan have been consistently denied, with her legal representatives facing harassment. The United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Commission have called for Zhan’s immediate release, condemning her sentencing.
Detained since August 2024 at Shanghai’s Pudong Detention Center, Zhan’s arrest in May 2020 was linked to her reporting from Wuhan during the Covid-19 outbreak. China, known as a challenging environment for journalists, currently detains over 120 media workers, ranking 178th out of 180 countries in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index.
