Chinese Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri to Receive 2026 Lantos Human Rights Prize

The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice has announced that Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri will receive the 2026 Lantos Human Rights Prize on December 10 in Washington. The award honors Jin for his advocacy of religious freedom and his leadership of the Beijing-based Zion Church, which has faced significant pressure from Chinese authorities.

Jin, who founded Zion Church in 2007, was detained during a widespread crackdown in October 2025 that saw nearly 30 church members and leaders arrested across multiple cities. Following diplomatic intervention by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, Jin was released on July 3, 2026, after spending 266 days in custody. He has since relocated to the United States.

While expressing gratitude for the recognition, Jin continues to advocate for the release of eight fellow church leaders who remain imprisoned in China. The Lantos Human Rights Prize is named after the late U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who dedicated his career to defending human rights and religious liberty.