Media contact:
Chelsea Hedquist
press@lantosfoundation.org
Pastor Ezra Jin to Receive 2026 Lantos Human Rights Prize
Chinese pastor and former religious prisoner of conscience recognized as a powerful advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all
October 9, 2026, Washington, DC – The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice today announced that it will award the 2026 Lantos Human Rights Prize to Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, founder and leader of Zion Church and a former religious prisoner of conscience of the Chinese Communist Party. This announcement coincides with the one-year anniversary of Pastor Jin’s arrest, which was part of a widespread crackdown on Christians in China.
Pastor Jin only sought to faithfully and peacefully lead his church community. However, he found himself in the crosshairs of the Chinese regime, as the leader of one of the largest Protestant “house churches” in the country, when he was forced to stand up for the fundamental right to freedom of belief, both personally and on behalf of his church community. For this courageous stand, he was arrested, along with dozens of Zion Church clergy and members, on October 9, 2025. He was detained for nine months and then released after President Trump specifically raised his case with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing. Since his release, Pastor Jin has advocated tirelessly for the freedom of the eight Zion Church members who remain imprisoned, along with hundreds of other religious prisoners of conscience in China.
“I am honored to receive the Lantos Prize and to have the opportunity to raise awareness about the severe persecution faced by people of faith in China,” said Pastor Jin. “The Chinese Communist Party has targeted my church community and so many other communities, spanning many different faith and belief traditions. It is vital for people around the world to come together to advocate for greater religious freedom for the people of China; this right is fundamental to any peaceful and just society. I am especially focused on advocating for the release of my eight brothers and sisters from Zion Church, who remain unjustly imprisoned. I will not rest from speaking out until they are free and reunited with their loved ones.”
This year will mark 18 years of the annual awarding of the Lantos Human Rights Prize, with former laureates including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the late Professor Elie Wiesel, Uyghur activist Rebiya Kadeer, Yezidi parliamentarian Vian Dakhil, Hong Kong democracy movement leader Joshua Wong, renowned human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler – among other notable figures. Pastor Jin will be honored at a ceremony held on December 10 in Washington, DC.
“Pastor Jin has inspired people throughout the world with his unyielding courage and unshakeable faith in the face of persecution,” said Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation. “He may not have set out to become a powerful advocate for the foundational right of freedom of belief, but he rose to the occasion when called upon. I am deeply honored to award the Lantos Prize to an individual who lives his beliefs and values so fully and whose example should inspire each of us to do likewise.”
Pastor Jin’s first serious run-in with the Chinese regime occurred in 2018 when he refused to allow the installation of surveillance cameras inside Zion Church. The regime officially shut down Zion Church, placed Pastor Jin under heavy surveillance, and banned him from exiting the country. Nevertheless, Zion Church continued to grow “underground” and attracted thousands of members in cities throughout China. The Chinese regime took its persecution of Zion Church to a new level with its October 2025 crackdown and widespread arrests. Many of the original detainees were released within a few weeks of their arrest, but Pastor Jin remained behind bars until July 2026. The eight remaining detainees from Zion Church include: Pastor Wang Lin, Pastor Yin Huibin, Pastor Lin Shucheng, Pastor Gao Yingjia, Pastor Liu Zhenbin, Pastor Wang Cong, Elder Wang Zhong and Sister Wu Qiuyu.
The 2026 Lantos Prize will be conferred at an invitation only ceremony in Washington, DC, which will also highlight the ongoing plight of religious prisoners of conscience in China. More details about the ceremony will be forthcoming for members of the media. The Lantos Human Rights Prize has been awarded annually since 2009 (see a full list of laureates here). It is given to a human rights champion or champions to help draw attention to human rights violations around the world and to encourage governments to prioritize human rights in foreign policy decisions. The Lantos Prize is named for Congressman Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the U.S. Congress and co-founder of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, now known as the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
###
About the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice: The Lantos Foundation was established in 2008 to carry forward the legacy of Congressman Tom Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor ever elected to the U.S. Congress and a leading human rights champion. The Foundation works with a range of partners on issues that span the globe, including international religious freedom, rule of law, prisoners of conscience, internet freedom, and more. The Foundation also administers the Lantos Congressional Fellows Program, supports human rights advocates, activists and artists through its Front Line Fund grant program, and awards the annual Lantos Human Rights Prize to honor and bring attention to heroes of the human rights movement. Learn more at www.lantosfoundation.org.