Xu Zhiyong

Xu Zhiyong was born on March 2, 1973. The date is recorded in public translations of his 2014 and 2023 criminal judgments.[5][6]

In The Last Ten Years, Xu recalls sending a proposal with Yu Jiang and Teng Biao seeking constitutional review of custody-and-repatriation regulations.

In The Past Ten Years, Xu connected the initiative with debate following Sun Zhigang’s death. With Yu Jiang and Teng Biao, he sought regulatory review by the NPC Standing Committee, moving from an individual case toward an institutional challenge. It provides an early context for his later Gongmeng legal-aid and civic work, while remaining a participant’s account rather than an official review document.[12]

In The Last Ten Years he recalled seeking administrative compensation for victims.[12]

Xu recalled Gongmeng organizing lawyers to assist families of children affected by melamine-tainted formula.[12]

The signed essay discusses civic responsibility, equality, openness and public participation.

The essay centers on freedom, justice and love, connecting civic responsibility with everyday expression and public participation, including equality in education and oversight of power. It is dated May 29; an authorized English translation appeared in July. Writing, translated publication and the later activities subject to prosecution are distinct events.[13]

Xu Zhiyong was criminally detained in Beijing on suspicion of gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place.[5]

The public translation of the 2014 judgment dates formal arrest to this day; HRW’s report gives August 2, twenty days earlier.[5][10]

The public translation of the 2014 judgment records indictment by Beijing Procuratorate Branch No. 1 for gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place.[5]

The court holds a pretrial conference addressing jurisdiction, witness appearances and evidence.[5]

The Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court tried Xu on the charge of gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place. Human Rights Watch raised concerns about the proceedings and related rights protections.[5][10]

The Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court sentenced Xu to four years in prison for gathering a crowd to disrupt order in a public place. The basis for the conviction and aspects of the proceedings were disputed.[5]

The US Department of State issued a statement reporting that Xu’s four-year sentence had been upheld on appeal and calling for his release.[1]

Xu Zhiyong was released upon completing his sentence. The 2014 judgment specified a prison term ending on July 15, 2017, and subsequent public case records also record his release on that date.[5][6]

According to the public translation of the 2023 judgment, Xu was criminally detained on suspicion of inciting subversion of state power.[6]

According to the public translation of the 2023 judgment, Xu was placed under residential surveillance at a designated location.[6]

The public translation of the 2023 judgment records transfer of the case to Yantai police in Shandong.[6]

The public translation of the 2023 judgment records that Xu was formally arrested on June 19, 2020.[6]

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted Opinion No. 82/2020. It found the deprivation of Xu's liberty examined in the opinion to be arbitrary under categories I, II, III, and V.[7]

The Linyi Municipal People's Procuratorate in Shandong Province indicted Xu for subversion of state power.[6]

The public translation of the 2023 judgment records a pretrial conference at Linyi Intermediate Court.[6]

The Linyi Municipal Intermediate People's Court held a closed-door trial. The court stated that the case involved state secrets.[6]

The Linyi Municipal Intermediate People's Court sentenced Xu to 14 years in prison and four years' deprivation of political rights for subversion of state power. The judgment was dated April 9, and the sentence was announced on April 10.

The published judgment translation describes the gatherings, writing and organizational activity considered by the court and records the defense’s denial of guilt and procedural objections. The judgment is dated April 9 and was announced on April 10. China’s 2025 reply records rejection of the appeal that November without the exact day or full appellate judgment, limiting the available chronological precision.[6][8][11][9]

According to a Chinese government reply submitted to the United Nations, the Shandong High People's Court upheld the judgment in November 2023. The reply does not specify the exact date.[9]

Luo’s February 2024 testimony reports that Xu was transferred to Lunan Prison in Shandong.[14]

Li published Waiting for a Letter, describing her July letter, revision and attempts to resolve its withholding.[15]

Safeguard Defenders reports receipt of Xu’s letter confirming delivery of two September letters, but not the July letter.[16]