The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed deep concern over the recent re-conviction of Zhang Zhan, a citizen journalist and former lawyer, who received a second four-year sentence for allegedly "picking quarrels and provoking trouble." The conviction, based on her social media activities, has been criticized for its vague justification and apparent repression of free speech.

OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence emphasized the troubling nature of Zhang’s repeated convictions under the same charge, highlighting issues with due process as independent observers were reportedly prevented from attending the trial. The UN rights chief has called for the abolition or suspension of the broadly defined offense, which has been frequently used to target individuals exercising their fundamental human rights.

Zhang, aged 42, was initially detained in 2020 after reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. Her posts and video interviews often contradicted the official narrative, leading to her first arrest and conviction. During her imprisonment, Zhang underwent a prolonged hunger strike, resulting in severe health issues. Despite her release in May 2024, she was closely monitored and soon re-arrested for activities that authorities claimed “seriously damaged the country’s image.”

The international community, including Amnesty International, has voiced strong opposition to Zhang’s convictions, calling them baseless and demanding her immediate release, access to legal representation, family contact, and proper medical care. Rights groups argue that Zhang’s case is indicative of a broader pattern of repression under the guise of the offense of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” which allows Chinese authorities to penalize free expression under ambiguous terms like “making a commotion” or “serious disorder.”

This law has increasingly been applied to suppress online commentary, investigative journalism, and civic activism, with Reporters Without Borders noting China’s low ranking of 178 out of 180 in its 2025 World Press Freedom Index and highlighting the detention of at least 100 media workers in the country.

The OHCHR continues to push for the reconsideration of laws that restrict expression to ensure they are clear, necessary, and proportionate, and to prevent their use as tools for punishing criticism or independent journalism. The global call for Zhang Zhan’s release underscores the ongoing struggle for press freedom and human rights in regions where such values are under threat.