The United States has strongly criticized China for detaining dozens of leaders from the underground Zion Church, calling for their swift release. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the Chinese Communist Party had “recently detained dozens of leaders of the unregistered Zion Church…including prominent pastor Mingri ‘Ezra’ Jin” and urged China to free them immediately.
The detention of Jin Mingri—also known as Ezra—comes after his home in Beihai, Guangxi Province, was raided on Friday. According to his daughter Grace, who now lives in the United States, nearly 30 other Zion Church pastors or staff members were taken across cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, with many reports of missing persons. Calls to the Beihai police were unanswered, and family members say Jin is being accused of “illegal dissemination of religious information.”
Zion Church began in 2007 in Beijing and grew into one of the country’s largest unofficial congregations, with satellite campuses and more than 1,000 regular attendees. After a 2018 nationwide crackdown closed several house churches, including Zion’s main campus, the church survived by holding smaller gatherings and sharing sermons online through Zoom, YouTube and WeChat. Jin has faced constant surveillance, was forced out of Beijing, and was barred from leaving the country to visit family who had left in 2018.
The Chinese Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but in practice the Communist Party permits only state‑approved churches to operate openly. Tens of millions of Chinese Christians worship in underground, or “house,” churches. Under President Xi Jinping, the state has intensified its suppression of religious groups, especially urging citizens to report unsanctioned gatherings, often labeling them as cults.
After Jin’s arrest, former Vice President Mike Pence also urged the Chinese government to release him. Corey Jackson, founder of the U.S.‑based Luke Alliance that advocates for persecuted Christians in China, called the arrests “the biggest crackdown on Christianity in China since 2018.” He warned that if this is just the start, the situation could worsen, but he believes Chinese Christians will continue to gather.
The U.S. response highlights ongoing concerns about religious freedom in China. The Zion Church’s resilience—despite government restrictions—illustrates the strength of underground Christianity and the persistence of believers in the face of persecution. The U.S. government’s condemnation signals international pressure on China to respect human rights, particularly the right to practice religion without fear of detention.
Source: aninews
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