President Donald Trump is expected to raise the cases of detained religious figures with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during their upcoming summit on September 24, following calls from U.S. officials and advocacy groups to prioritize the issue of religious freedom in China.
Two key developments have intensified focus on the matter: the recent release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri and the ongoing detention of eight Zion Church leaders, as well as the case of Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a Uyghur physician imprisoned in China. Both cases have been cited as priorities for discussion ahead of the high-level meeting.
Immediate Actions and Core Facts
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has formally urged Trump to address the cases of detained religious prisoners during his meeting with Xi. In a statement issued on September 14, USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood emphasized that the U.S. expects China to respect religious freedom rather than persecute individuals for their faith.
Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, leader of an underground church in China, was released in early July after being detained in October 2025 as part of a broader crackdown on his church. Jin, who had resigned himself to a potential 15-year prison sentence, described his release as “a miracle” and credited Trump’s diplomacy for securing his freedom. According to USCIRF, eight other Zion Church leaders, including Wang Lin and Wu Qiuyu, remain detained and have been added to the commission’s Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List.
Separately, the family of Dr. Gulshan Abbas, a Uyghur doctor imprisoned in China since September 2018, is urging Trump to raise her case with Xi. Abbas, a 64-year-old retired physician, was sentenced on what U.S. officials and human rights groups describe as fabricated terrorism charges. Her sister, Rushan Abbas, has been campaigning for her release, stating that Trump’s previous intervention on behalf of Pastor Jin demonstrates the potential for similar action in Dr. Abbas’s case.
Advocacy and Political Support
The push to include these cases on the summit agenda has gained bipartisan backing in the U.S. Congress. A House resolution introduced by Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) called for Trump to prioritize the release of several political and religious prisoners in China, including Dr. Abbas, during future meetings with Xi. The resolution passed the House unanimously (414-0) on May 13, with the Senate adopting its version the same day.
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), a co-sponsor of a separate Senate resolution on political prisoners in China, stated that Abbas’s case “ought to be on the agenda” for the upcoming summit. Grassley emphasized the importance of raising such issues directly with Xi to secure the release of detained individuals.
China’s Response and Broader Context
The cases of detained religious figures and Uyghur activists have drawn international scrutiny, with U.S. officials and advocacy groups accusing Chinese authorities of systematic repression. The Zion Church leaders, including Wang Lin and Wu Qiuyu, are reportedly being held in detention centers in Guangxi region, according to family members cited by the advocacy group China Aid. Their detention follows a broader operation targeting the church, which has faced increased scrutiny under Chinese law.
Dr. Abbas’s case has also drawn attention due to her Uyghur ethnicity and the broader context of China’s policies in the Xinjiang region, where reports of mass detentions and human rights abuses have been widely documented. Her family and supporters argue that her imprisonment is part of a broader campaign of repression against Uyghur Muslims.
Next Steps and Uncertainty
While the Trump administration has not confirmed whether Dr. Abbas’s case will be raised during the summit, the inclusion of Pastor Jin’s release as a precedent has fueled optimism among advocates. The USCIRF’s call for Trump to continue pressing China on religious freedom underscores the ongoing diplomatic pressure the U.S. is applying on this issue.
The outcome of the summit remains uncertain, but the cases of Pastor Jin and Dr. Abbas have become focal points in discussions about U.S.-China relations and human rights. Advocacy groups continue to urge the administration to maintain pressure on Beijing to address these and other cases of detained individuals.