China frees U.S. Pastor David Lin after nearly 20 years in prison
- In Reports
- 05:22 PM, Sep 16, 2024
- Myind Staff
China has released U.S. pastor David Lin, who had been imprisoned since 2006, marking the end of a nearly two-decade-long ordeal for the American citizen. Lin was jailed on charges of contract fraud, but U.S. officials have long maintained that he was wrongfully detained. His release was confirmed by the U.S. State Department on Sunday.
“We welcome David Lin’s release from prison in the People’s Republic of China. He has returned to the United States and now gets to see his family for the first time in nearly 20 years,” a State Department spokesperson said. Lin’s release brings an end to what many U.S. politicians have described as an unjust imprisonment.
Lin’s daughter, Alice, expressed her relief and joy in an interview with Politico, saying her father would be arriving in San Antonio, Texas. “No words can express the joy we have — we have a lot of time to make up for,” she was quoted as saying. Lin, now 68, had spent nearly two decades behind bars in China and is finally reuniting with his family.
U.S. lawmakers have been advocating for Lin’s release for years. Last November, Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called on President Joe Biden to raise Lin’s case, along with two other Americans, Kai Li and Mark Swidan, during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both Li and Swidan remain imprisoned, with U.S. officials also describing their detention as wrongful. China has consistently maintained that all cases are handled according to its legal system.
On Wednesday, a congressional commission is scheduled to hold a hearing focused on the imprisonment of American citizens in China. The hearing will address the cases of Lin, Li, and Swidan, all of whom have reportedly faced significant health issues during their detention.
Image source: ANI
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