President Trump Raises Detained Pastor's Case with Xi Jinping, Leading to Release
Ezra Jin Mingri, a senior pastor from China, was released after spending 266 days in detention. His release followed diplomatic efforts between the United States and China, including President Trump raising Jin's case with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Jin, who entered the U.S. on July 4, reunited with his family for the first time in eight years. His detention was part of a broader crackdown on unregistered religious congregations in China, which began with a Sinicization campaign in 2015. This campaign aimed to align religious practices with Communist Party ideologies. Jin's church, Beijing Zion Church, faced closure in 2018, and its services moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite his release, Jin continues to advocate for the freedom of eight other church leaders still detained.