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2h ago

U.S. Condemns China’s Detention of Zion Church Leaders as Pastor Ezra Jin Is Held

The statement follows reports of a coordinated sweep targeting unregistered house-church leaders on allegations of illegal online ministry.

FILE -In this photo taken Aug. 4, 2018, pastor Jin Minri leads a class on the basics of Christian beliefs at the Zion Church in Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan), File)
FILE -Police officers guard at the main entrance door to a building where Zion church is located after the church was shutdown by authorities in Beijing, Sept. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

Overview

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States condemns the detentions and called for the immediate release of Pastor Ezra Jin and other Zion Church leaders.
  • Jin, 56, was detained at his home in Beihai, Guangxi, as nearly 30 Zion pastors and staff were taken or went missing across cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Jiaxing and Huangdao.
  • Church sources report police citing illegal dissemination of religious content online, though formal charges and case documents have not been made public.
  • Zion Church, among China’s largest unregistered congregations, expanded via online worship after its 2018 shutdown and now draws thousands across more than 100 dispersed meeting sites.
  • Chinese ministries and Beihai police did not respond to requests for comment as families and advocacy groups seek international attention to the detentions.