Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, known for her early coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak from Wuhan, has been sentenced to an additional four years in prison.
Zhang, aged 42, was initially imprisoned in December 2020 on charges of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" after sharing firsthand accounts and videos depicting hospitals overwhelmed and deserted streets, portraying a grimmer situation than the official narrative.
The international press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported the additional sentence on Saturday, condemning her treatment and calling for her immediate release.
Aleksandra Bielakowska, RSF's Asia-Pacific advocacy manager, stated, "She should be recognized worldwide as an 'information hero,' not confined in harsh prison conditions. Her suffering and persecution must come to an end."
Zhang's lawyer previously asserted that her arrest and conviction were responses to her exercise of freedom of expression.
As of now, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has not commented on the latest sentencing.