A 42 -year -old Chinese independent journalistwho had condemned in four years imprisonment Because she recorded her first phases Covid-19 pandemicwas sentenced on Friday to another four years in prison, according to Journalists Without Borders (RSF).

Jang Jean was condemned for “causing riots and causing problems” in China, exactly the same as it led her to prison in December 2020. At that time, she had published testimonies and videos from the central city of Uhan when the virus had begun to spread, the international organization said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on the fact while the Reuters He could not confirm whether the journalist had legal representation.

“Should be honored worldwide as a heroine of information rather than being trapped in inhumane detention conditions‘, said RSF Campaign Officer for the Asia-Pacific area, Alexandra Bielakovska. “Its martyrdom and prosecution must be over. It is more urgent than ever for the international diplomatic community to push Beijing to its immediate release“

Jang was initially arrested after months of publications showing full hospitals and empty roads, capturing a much more gloomy image than the official government narrative. Her then lawyer, Ren Kannihe had stated that his client believed that he was being persecuted because she was exercising her right to freedom of speech.

One month after her arrest, a hunger strike had begun, according to court documents seen by Reuters, with the police tied her hands and necessarily feeding her with a pipe, as her lawyers had reported.

Jang was released in May 2024, but was re -arrested three months later and eventually detained at the detention center Pundong her Shangularaccording to RSF. Her new conviction on Friday followed her report on human rights violations in China. Her former lawyer Renn wrote on the X platform that the new charges were based on comments she posted on foreign websites and that she should not be guilty.

Chinese authorities have not publicly clarified what activities are attributed to Jang

“This is the second time Jang Jean is facing a trial with unfounded charges, which are nothing but a blatant act of prosecution for her journalistic work“, Bee Lee Y, Asian-Pacific Director of the Committee for the Protection of Journalistsbased in New York. “Chinese authorities have to put an end to its arbitrary detention, withdraw all categories and release it immediately“

China has the world’s largest prison in the world, with at least 124 media workers back From the railings, according to RSF. The country was ranked 178th between 180 states and areas in the Freedom Rank of the Press 2025 of the organization.

A week before the new conviction of her Jang, China’s Supreme Legislative Body It approved a bill to accelerate response to state -of -the -art states of public health, allowing citizens to directly report such cases, bypassing the traditional government hierarchy.