Ezra Jin Mingri, a 57-year-old Chinese Christian pastor, was suddenly released from a detention center in southern China after President Donald Trump raised his case with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in May. Jin had been held since October and was facing charges related to running an unregistered church.
From Detention to Freedom
Jin said he was called to gather his belongings and was handed new clothes and a new pair of Nike shoes. He was then taken to a high-speed train station and traveled to the southern metropolis of Guangzhou, where he was put on a plane to the United States.
Jin credited Trump’s “unique diplomacy” for his release, saying it was a “miracle.” He said he was not forced to make a confession or go through a show trial, and the charges against him were dropped.
A High-Profile Case
Jin’s release is an exceptional case of a high-profile Chinese detainee going free following a U.S. request. He has led one of China’s most influential underground churches, which defy government restrictions by not being registered with authorities.
Jin said he will be working to help free other Christians detained in China, including Wang Yi, pastor of the Early Rain Covenant Church, who is serving nine years in jail. He also hopes that China will legalize independent churches, saying it is his “most important wish in my lifetime.”
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
