Citizen journalist Zhang Zhan was released from Shanghai Women’s Prison on May 13 after serving four years for documenting and reporting on the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan. Recently, she was warned by Shanghai police not to touch the “red line.”
Ms. Wang Jianhong, a British activist and founder of the Zhang Zhan Concern Group, stated, “Zhang Zhan, a prominent Chinese citizen journalist, sent a message on June 9 on her WeChat Moments that she was being questioned and threatened by the Xuanqiao police station of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau’s Pudong branch. The police warned her that if she touched the ‘red line’ again, she would go in again (referring to jail).” In her post, Zhang Zhan asked: “Whose red line are you all protecting? Is the life of the people the red line? Or is it ‘the opinion of superiors’? I don’t want to go in (to jail), and I’m not the one who should go in.”
On May 29, Zhang shared her experiences as a Christian on Five O’Clock in the Afternoon in China, an online networking platform for Christian house churches. She tearfully expressed her fears and hopes during a video appearance. While in prison, she prayed for her cellmate's healing and claimed that God answered her prayer. Despite ongoing surveillance and restricted freedom after release, she expressed a desire to attend Sunday worship services.
In this video, Zhang recounted how her experience with faith during imprisonment led to gratitude and joy rather than complaints. She described this period as evidence of Heaven's existence and viewed worldly suffering as temporary.
It remains unclear whether Zhang's recent subpoena is connected to remarks made in this video or if appearing in it constituted crossing a "red line."
Following Zhang’s release, concerns about her health were raised by friends both domestically and internationally. Shanghai lawyer Peng Yonghe managed to visit Zhang but was subsequently summoned by local police on May 31 at Xuanqiao police station. His electronic devices were confiscated without any documentation provided.
During the initial stages of COVID-19, China faced widespread unfamiliarity with the virus's impact. In 2020, Zhang Zhan’s reporting from Wuhan highlighted public distrust towards government handling of the outbreak and sought unfiltered information. Her work placed her at significant risk; she documented empty streets and silent hospitals before facing arrest and imprisonment.
China continues to view individuals like Zhang who document events critically as potential threats to social stability. Advocacy efforts within China have often led to targeting those who support figures like Zhang Zhan.
The People’s Republic of China has been urged by various advocacy groups such as ChinaAids to respect fundamental human rights unconditionally concerning Ms. Zhang Zhan. These calls include demands for an end to measures such as surveillance, censorship, harassment, and intimidation against her.
