Chinese Underground Church Leader Jin Mingri Released After Detention
Jin Mingri, the notorious head pastor of the Zion Church in Beijing, was released from prison after a brief detention during an extensive crackdown on unlicensed religious groups in China. He was taken into custody during overnight raids in October 2025, as part of the Chinese government’s strict enforcement against churches that operate outside the state‑sanctioned umbrella.
The release came just weeks after the former U.S. President Donald Trump urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to free the pastor while on a bilateral state visit in May. Trump’s public appeal was followed by the Chinese government’s swift action, a move welcomed by U.S.-based rights group ChinaAid and an international Parliamentary coalition that includes UK members.
While explaining the significance of the case, Jin’s family said, “We truly witnessed a miracle and are overwhelmed with joy.” They added that the president’s intervention possibly prevented a deeper clash, though the Chinese foreign ministry has yet to issue an official statement.
Europe’s Christian leaders and Western lawmakers have praised the decision, calling it a “positive turn for faith in China.” The Zion Church, founded in 2007 with 20 members, grew to a network of around 10,000 followers across 40 cities before its official ban in 2018.
Jin’s release does not end the broader crackdown. Authorities continue to detain other underground church leaders, and the Chinese Communist Party remains strictly anti- religious organizations that operate outside their regulated choir. The case highlights the tension between stricter state control and popular religious expression, and may set a precedent for future negotiations between China and foreign governments on human rights concerns.
