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‘Suddenly, I Was Free’: A Chinese Pastor’s Journey From Jail to the U.S.
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Pastor Jin Mingri, founder of a major underground church in China, was released after 266 days in jail following a personal appeal by President Trump to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
- Jin's detention was part of China's largest church crackdown in nearly a decade, targeting numerous church leaders last October.
- His release was unusual in China's authoritarian system, where high-profile detainees' fates often depend on top-level intervention rather than judicial processes.
- After being hurriedly moved under heavy police guard, Jin was escorted onto a flight and met an American government official, confirming his freedom.
- The case highlights the significant influence of diplomatic negotiations in securing the release of political or religious prisoners in China.
