China releases underground church pastor Ezra Jin after detention

Ezra Jin, the founder of the underground Christian congregation known as Zion Church, has arrived in the United States, his family announced on Tuesday. According to the family, Jin was released from Chinese detention after spending several months in custody, after which he was able to travel abroad and enter the United States.

The family’s statement did not disclose the specific circumstances of Jin’s release or the legal basis for his entry into the United States. Zion Church, which operates without official registration in China, has faced periodic crackdowns by authorities for its unregistered religious activities. Jin’s detention, which began earlier this year, was part of a broader pattern of scrutiny directed at house churches in the country. His arrival in the United States marks the latest development in a case that has drawn attention from international human‑rights observers and underscores the ongoing challenges faced by unregistered religious groups in China.