China frees prominent pastor Ezra Jin after U.S. pressure as FBI arrests Estonian basketball player
China releases imprisoned pastor Ezra Jin after U.S. pressure as FBI arrests Estonian basketball player Kerr Kriisa on fraud charges
China freed Ezra Jin, the founder of one of the country’s most prominent underground churches, on Friday after 266 days in detention, his family said, crediting direct intervention by President Xi Jinping and lobbying by the Trump administration. Jin, 48, arrived in Los Angeles on Friday evening, reuniting with his wife and children who had been living in the United States since 2023 due to an exit ban. “We truly witnessed a miracle and we are feeling overwhelmed with joy,” the family said in a statement. “We thank God for this tremendous miracle. We also thank President Trump and his administration for their tremendous leadership.” Grace Jin Drexel, the pastor’s daughter, testified before Congress in November and met with Trump in May during his visit to Beijing, where he said Xi was “seriously considering” releasing detained pastors. Jin’s release follows Trump’s public pledge to raise the case with Xi, marking a rare instance of Beijing releasing one of its own citizens under U.S. pressure. Jin was arrested in October 2025 in Beihai, southern China, on charges of “illegal use of information networks” after his Zion Church, also known as the “house church” movement, expanded online despite government restrictions. China permits worship only in state-controlled churches, but underground congregations like Jin’s have grown to an estimated 130 million believers, defying official limits. The crackdown has intensified in recent months, with dozens of pastors and church members detained, including several Zion Church officials still imprisoned.
In a separate development, the FBI arrested Estonian basketball player Kerr Kriisa, 25, on Friday on suspicion of participating in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme dating back to the 2023-24 season. Kriisa, who played for West Virginia University and later Kentucky, was taken into custody and is set to appear in court in West Virginia next week. Authorities allege he was involved in fraudulent activities, including bribery and conspiracy, with the scheme’s value reaching into the millions. Kriisa, who had been preparing to join Estonian champions Tartu Ülikool for the upcoming season, was removed from Kentucky’s summer roster following his arrest. In 2024, he was handed a nine-game suspension for violating NCAA financial aid rules while at Arizona. The FBI has not disclosed further details, and no additional charges have been filed.
The pastor’s release comes amid heightened scrutiny of China’s treatment of religious minorities, with international observers noting the symbolic significance of Jin’s freedom following Trump’s diplomatic engagement. Meanwhile, Kriisa’s case underscores the reach of U.S. law enforcement into transnational sports networks, as his arrest follows a pattern of increased scrutiny on financial misconduct in collegiate athletics. Both developments reflect broader geopolitical and legal pressures shaping headlines on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
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