Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, a leader of the underground Zion Church in China, has been released from prison after being detained in October. His family and rights advocates announced his release on Saturday, stating that he has been reunited with his family in Los Angeles.

Background

Pastor Jin’s case gained attention after President Donald Trump raised his detention with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a state visit to Beijing in May. Trump told reporters that Xi said he would consider the pastor’s release, but noted that the case of imprisoned Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai would be more difficult.

The Zion Church is one of the largest underground churches in China, and its leaders have been targeted by the Chinese government for their refusal to register with the authorities. Pastor Jin’s daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, told a congressional committee in November that her father started the church to worship freely and that he had brought his family to the United States after the church was targeted in 2018.

Activists have welcomed Pastor Jin’s release, but have also called for the release of other church leaders who remain detained. At least eight members of the Zion Church are still being held in China, according to Human Rights Watch.

Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.