WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, founder of one of China's largest independent Protestant church networks, has been selected to receive the 2026 Lantos Human Rights Prize for his advocacy of religious freedom. The announcement follows his release from nearly nine months of imprisonment in China and comes as eight members of his congregation remain detained by Chinese authorities.
The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice announced the selection on October 9, 2026, exactly one year after Jin was arrested during a nationwide crackdown on Beijing Zion Church. The foundation said the award recognizes his commitment to defending freedom of religion and belief, particularly his continued efforts to secure the release of other imprisoned church leaders.
Jin founded Beijing Zion Church in 2007 after completing theological studies in the United States. The congregation developed into one of China's largest independent Protestant church networks, operating outside the country's government-controlled religious registration system. Its growth brought increasing scrutiny from Chinese authorities, particularly as the congregation expanded its worship gatherings and religious teaching activities.
In 2018, government officials ordered Zion Church to install surveillance cameras inside its worship facility. Church leaders refused, citing concerns about religious freedom and the privacy of worshipers. Authorities subsequently closed the church's main sanctuary, placed Jin under surveillance, and restricted his ability to leave China.
Despite the closure, Zion Church continued holding religious gatherings in homes and other locations while expanding its online worship and teaching activities. The congregation developed a network of believers across numerous Chinese cities, demonstrating how independent Christian communities continued practicing their faith despite government restrictions.
On October 9, 2025, Chinese authorities began a coordinated operation targeting Zion Church pastors and members across multiple cities. Approximately 30 individuals were detained during the crackdown, including Jin. While many were later released, Jin remained in custody for nearly nine months as international religious freedom organizations and American officials called for his release.
Jin was released in early July 2026 following diplomatic engagement between the United States and China. According to the Lantos Foundation, President Donald Trump had personally raised his case with Chinese President Xi Jinping during discussions in Beijing. Jin subsequently traveled to the United States, where he reunited with his family after his prolonged detention.
His release, however, did not bring an end to the legal proceedings involving Zion Church. Eight pastors and members remain detained in China, including Pastors Wang Lin, Yin Huibin, Lin Shucheng, Gao Yingjia, Liu Zhenbin, and Wang Cong, Elder Wang Zhong, and church member Wu Qiuyu. Human rights organizations report that the detainees face charges connected to online religious activities and church operations, including allegations involving information networks and business practices.
Fortify Rights has called for their immediate release and the dismissal of charges related to peaceful religious worship. The organization has also documented concerns raised by relatives about detention conditions, treatment of prisoners, and the separation of detained church leaders from their families.
Since arriving in the United States, Jin has continued speaking publicly about the situation facing religious communities in China. He has emphasized that government restrictions affect not only Protestant Christians but also members of other religious traditions. His advocacy has focused on encouraging international attention and cooperation to protect freedom of belief.
In responding to the award announcement, Jin expressed appreciation for the recognition while stressing that the eight remaining Zion Church detainees must not be forgotten. He said he intends to continue advocating until they are released and reunited with their families.
Katrina Lantos Swett, president of the Lantos Foundation, praised Jin's determination to defend religious freedom despite imprisonment and personal hardship. The foundation described his experience as an example of the risks faced by religious leaders who challenge restrictions on peaceful worship and religious expression.
The Lantos Human Rights Prize is named after Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who served in the United States House of Representatives and helped establish the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. Awarded annually since 2009, the prize recognizes individuals whose work draws international attention to human rights violations and encourages governments to prioritize human rights protections.
Previous recipients have included Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel, the Dalai Lama, Uyghur human rights advocate Rebiya Kadeer, and Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong. The foundation uses the award to recognize individuals who have demonstrated significant commitment to defending fundamental human rights.
Jin is scheduled to receive the 2026 prize at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on December 10, coinciding with International Human Rights Day. Organizers say the ceremony will also highlight the situation of religious prisoners of conscience in China.
The recognition comes amid continuing international concern about China's restrictions on independent religious communities. Human rights advocates have documented surveillance of worship gatherings, closures of religious facilities, restrictions on online religious activity, and the detention of clergy and congregants.
For Zion Church, the upcoming award provides an opportunity to bring renewed attention to the eight members who remain in custody. Jin's release represents an important development for his family and congregation, but the unresolved detention cases continue to raise questions about the protection of religious freedom and the treatment of independent Christian communities in China.
References:
lantosfoundation/news/2026/10/8/pastor-ezra-jin-to-receive-2026-lantos-human-rights-prize
chinaaid/news/formerly-imprisoned-chinese-pastor-ezra-jin-to-receive-major-human-rights-prize/
fortifyrights/mya-inv-2026-09-21/
uscirf/religious-prisoners-conscience/forb-victims-database/jin-mingri
