Trump may raise detained Chinese pastor’s case with Xi, family says
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The daughter of a detained Chinese pastor says she finally has “hope” after learning that President Donald Trump may bring her father’s case to Chinese President Xi Jinping; This call, he says, could change his life as his father’s health deteriorates behind bars.
Speaking to Fox News Sunday, Grace Jin Drexel said, “This gave us greater happiness and hope than we have ever had from the beginning,” and explained that she had received information that Trump was expected to mention the name of her father, Ezra Jin Mingri, at the summit with Xi.
“It’s been a few months, we’re very excited, we’re very grateful for the president,” he added.
Drexel’s father is among dozens of religious leaders affiliated with the Zion Church detained in China as authorities intensify pressure on underground Christian groups.
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President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping are preparing for a major summit in May. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images)
Family members say their ability to monitor detainees’ situation has worsened after lawyers representing detainees have been targeted by authorities, with some disbarred, detained or removed from the case.
But the Drexel family says they knew Grace’s father was unable to take the medications prescribed to treat his condition.
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Ezra Jin Mingri, lead pastor of Zion Church, poses in Beijing on September 12, 2018, days after authorities closed one of China’s largest underground Protestant churches. (Fred Dufour/AFP)
“And we know prison conditions are terrible, so we know we are extremely concerned about his well-being,” he said.
“He has severe type 2 diabetes and without appropriate medication there could be a huge potential risk to his health, so we would very much like to see him discharged as soon as possible.”
The family expects Trump to at least mention Jin’s name. However, their hopes for a “miracle” remain strong.
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“[Mentioning his name] “That alone is a huge victory, but our real hope is that there will be a miracle, and that miracle will be for her to be released unconditionally and to come to the United States and be reunited with her American family,” said Grace’s husband, Bill.
“The last time their little boy saw him, he was in elementary and middle school. Now they’re in college and going to college, so we were really hoping he could make it.”
