Dallas Baptist University’s Everett Center for Global Religious Freedom recently launched the “Two Empty Chairs” campaign, calling for the White House to raise concerns about religious persecution in China.
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The president is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing May 14–15 to discuss trade, technology and the ongoing conflict with Iran. The “Two Empty Chairs” campaign seeks to highlight concerns of religious persecution that may otherwise be overlooked during the summit.
Two empty chairs
Each empty chair represents a persecuted individual. The first individual, pastor Ezra Jin, is founder of the large underground Zion Church in China. Jin was detained by Chinese authorities in October 2025 as part of a nationwide crackdown on unregistered “house churches.”
Jin was charged with offenses such as “illegal use of information networks” and could face several years in prison. He is reportedly being held with limited access to family or legal communication.
The second empty chair is for Ilham Tohti, a prominent Uyghur economist and professor, arrested in January 2014 for his writings and advocacy on Uyghur rights and ethnic relations. He was sentenced to life imprisonment after being charged with “separatism” in September 2014.
Tohti’s case has been criticized as being politically motivated, representative of China’s systematic persecution of Uyghur Muslims in China, a group the Trump administration identified as suffering a genocide. He remains detained with no family contact in recent years.
Letter addressed to president
In a letter addressed to President Trump, organizers of “Two Empty Chairs” call on him to highlight religious persecution in China, advocate for the release of Ezra Jin and Ilham Tohti, and reaffirm China’s designation as a “country of particular concern.” Those advocating for religious freedom are encouraged to sign the letter.
The letter urges him to use his leverage to convince Xi to respect religious freedom and set both men free.
“Their families, and the families of other Chinese Christians and Uyghur Muslims, are praying for the United States to advocate for them,” the letter reads. Bottom of Form
Advocacy is crucial
Center for Global Religious Freedom Executive Director Knox Thames called on Americans to advocate for religious freedom in China:
“Advocating for religious freedom in China reflects American values and advances American interests. As Christians, we are called to speak up for the oppressed. This would include the persecuted Chinese church, but others as well, like Uyghur Muslims who face genocide by the Chinese government,” Thames said.
“For these reasons, our center’s ‘Two Empty Chairs’ campaign is calling on Christians to pray for the release of Pastor Ezra Jin and Uyghur leader Ilham Tohti and encourage President Trump to raise these concerns during his summit with Chairman Xi,” he said.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Faith Pratt and originally published by Baptist Standard.
