Zhang Zhirong (张芝榕) — Media Profile & Archive
See the Person Profile.
This archive collects the media record of the case of Zhang Zhirong (张芝榕), a 56-year-old Falun Gong practitioner from Yitandian Village, Shuiji Subdistrict, Laixi City, Qingdao, Shandong Province. Seized at his home on September 26, 2024 by the Laixi City Public Security Bureau’s domestic-security brigade with Shuiji police station officers, he was held for nearly a year at the Laixi City Detention Center, then sentenced around September 2025 by the Laixi City Court to four years in prison and transferred to Jinan Prison. The Rights Defense Network lists him as a reported current-custody prisoner (Issue 131, August 31, 2026) in its four-year group. His case is documented by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong and the Rights Defense Network’s Issue 131 roster in both Chinese and English editions.
Source provenance
The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), founded in 2003, investigates and publishes case records on the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Its reporting is partisan: it presents detentions as persecution and reflects the Falun Gong community’s perspective. The case facts below should be read as reported by this organization, not as independently verified findings.
The Rights Defense Network (维权网) monthly report is a systematic roster published monthly; Issue 131 (August 31, 2026) lists reported current-custody political prisoners and prisoners of conscience grouped by sentence length. It corroborates the four-year sentence independently: 张芝榕 appears in the 判刑4年/171人 band, with “Zhang Zhirong” in the parallel English band.
Chronological media record
September 26, 2024 — seizure. Officers of the Laixi City Public Security Bureau’s domestic-security brigade together with Shuiji police station police, in plainclothes, seized Mr. Zhang Zhirong at his home in Yitandian Village, searched the residence, and took him to the Laixi City Detention Center, per the WOIPFG notice.
September 2024 – ~September 2025 — detention. Mr. Zhang was held at the Laixi City Detention Center for nearly a year pending trial, per the WOIPFG notice.
~September 2025 — sentencing. The Laixi City Court sentenced him to four years in prison; he was transferred to Jinan Prison, per the WOIPFG notice of October 25, 2025.
October 25, 2025 — WOIPFG investigation notice. The World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong published its notice on the Laixi City case, documenting the seizure, detention, four-year sentence, Jinan Prison transfer, Mr. Zhang’s prior persecution history (1999, 2000, 2001 detentions; 2002 and 2004 labor-camp terms; 2017 harassment), and the officials and units it holds responsible.
August 31, 2026 — roster classification. The Rights Defense Network’s Issue 131 monthly report lists 张芝榕 in its four-year sentence group; the English edition confirms “Zhang Zhirong” in the parallel band.
Media items (with verification)
- World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong, “追查山东省莱西市迫害法轮功学员张芝榕的责任人的通告,” October 25, 2025 — https://www.zhuichaguoji.org/sites/default/files/pdf/2025/10/9143_0.pdf — dedicated case record: identity (male, 56, Yitandian Village / Shuiji / Laixi / Qingdao / Shandong), September 26, 2024 seizure and home search, Laixi City Detention Center, four-year sentence by Laixi City Court around September 2025, Jinan Prison transfer, full prior-persecution history, named responsible officials. Status: VERIFIED (opened and read 2026-10-08).
- 维权网, Issue 131 (Chinese edition), August 31, 2026 — independent Chinese-language media roster — places 张芝榕 in the 判刑4年/171人 (four-year, 171 people) band. Status: VERIFIED (local cache read 2026-10-08).
- 维权网, Issue 131 (English edition), August 31, 2026 — “Zhang Zhirong,” four years, parallel band. Status: VERIFIED (local cache read 2026-10-08).
What was searched and not found
- A Minghui.org case article on Mr. Zhang: NOT FOUND (four targeted searches surfaced only the WOIPFG notice).
- A second independent outlet covering the case: NOT FOUND.
- The underlying court judgment text: NOT FOUND.
- PRC official narrative / state media / court notices on this case: NOT FOUND.
- Consular or diplomatic attention: none found.
- Any update on Mr. Zhang’s condition or placement after October 2025: NOT FOUND.
- Appeal status: NOT FOUND.