The Christian NGO ChinaAid welcomed on Sunday the release of Jin Mingri, the chief pastor of the Zion Church, a major unofficial Protestant church in China. Detained since last October in detention centers in the southern city of Beihai, he arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday.
According to ChinaAid, the pastor, also known by his English name Ezra Jin, is now safe in the United States. In a statement, the organization expressed its "deep gratitude" following his release, which it considers a significant step forward for the defense of religious freedom in China.
Jin Mingri was among the 18 leaders of this clandestine church arrested last November. Chinese authorities accused them of "illegal use of information networks," an offense regularly invoked in cases involving activists, human rights defenders, or religious groups not recognized by the state.
Despite this release, the situation of several members of the Church of Zion remains concerning. Grace, the daughter of Pastor Jin Mingri, told Reuters that eight members of this religious community were still being held in China.
The Church of Zion is one of the country's largest "house churches," Christian communities that operate outside of religious structures officially authorized by Beijing. In recent years, Chinese authorities have tightened their control over independent religious organizations, citing national security and public order imperatives.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry had not responded to Reuters' requests for comment at the time of publication. Jin Mingri's release comes amid ongoing human rights criticism of restrictions imposed on unrecognized religious communities in China.
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