The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition express their strong concern about the detention and conviction of Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan.

Ms. Zhang was sentenced to four years in prison in December 2020, following her reporting on COVID-19 in Wuhan in 2020. She was released in May 2024, but detained again in August of the same year, after continuing her work on social media. She was officially charged in November 2024 and convicted in September 2025.

We are deeply concerned about the ongoing efforts by Chinese authorities to curtail media freedom, an essential element of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Zhang Zhan is one of many journalists in China who have been convicted and imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of expression. We urge Chinese authorities to abide by their international human rights commitments and legal obligations and release Ms. Zhang and all those detained in connection with their reporting. As first steps, information about Ms. Zhang’s whereabouts and health status should be disclosed and access to her family members should be granted.

Ms. Zhang’s case underscores the global importance of defending journalism as essential for transparency, accountability, and democracy. We urge Chinese authorities to allow journalists to practice their profession without fear of arrest, harassment or reprisal. Freedom of expression and free, independent, plural and diverse media are vital in building and supporting the functioning of inclusive societies and democracies and an informed citizenry.

Signed: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom.