The European Union calls for the immediate release of the Chinese journalist who reported on COVID-19 in Wuhan

Brussels – The European Union (EU) on Tuesday called for the “immediate” release of Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan, who was sentenced yesterday by a court in Shanghai. four years in prison for his coverage in the early moments of COVID-19 in Wuhan city.

“The EU calls for the immediate release of Ms Zhang Zhan,” said spokesman for the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, who extended this requirement to a dozen lawyers and human rights defenders who are also currently employed. found in prison in China.

Zhang has been in pre-trial detention since her arrest last May and was convicted yesterday of “causing dissent and causing trouble”.

The spokesman added that “according to credible sources, Ms. Zhang has been subjected to torture and ill-treatment while in detention and her health has deteriorated seriously,” so it is “crucial,” he said, that she receives medical attention.

According to official documents released in November, the journalist was accused of spreading “false information” on social networks such as Twitter, YouTube or Wechat (China’s WhatsApp) and of interviewing foreign media.

Zhang had previously been arrested last year for supporting the protests in Hong Kong.