After nearly 20 years of unjust imprisonment, a US pastor is finally released from Chinese detention.
David Lin, who was detained in 2006, has been released back to the US.
On Sunday, China released American pastor David Lin, who had been imprisoned since 2006 and was deemed to have been wrongfully detained by the State Department.
In 2009, a 68-year-old pastor was arrested for "contract fraud" and received a life sentence after being accused of aiding an unsanctioned house church. His sentence was later reduced, and he was scheduled to be released in April 2030.
Since the 1990s, Lin has been traveling to China for missionary work, as per a U.S.-based China advocacy group, China Aid, which was founded to aid persecuted activists.
THE US MUST BRING IMPRISONED AMERICAN PASTOR DAVID LIN HOME FROM CHINA
According to reports, Lin applied for a license from the Chinese government to establish a Christian ministry, but it is believed that the request was rejected.
Despite government crackdowns, house churches in China, which are not government-approved congregations, are reportedly gaining popularity across the country, according to Christian websites.
In 2019, the USCIRF expressed concern over Lin's safety and health in prison, suspecting that he was being targeted due to his faith.
"Pastor Lin was active in Beijing's house church movement before his imprisonment, which has faced hostility from Chinese authorities. House churches are independent of state-sponsored religious organizations, and those who participate in and lead house churches often face intimidation, harassment, arrest, and harsh sentences."
The State Department did not answer specific questions from Planet Chronicle Digital about Lin's release, but instead stated, "We are pleased that David Lin has been released from prison in the People's Republic of China."
The spokesperson stated that after returning to the United States, he will finally be reunited with his family after a nearly 20-year absence.
The Biden administration has been striving to obtain Lin's release for several years, including in July when Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Laos.
The administration, U.S. rights groups, and Hill lawmakers continue to demand the release of other Americans unjustly detained in China, including businessman Kai Li, accused of espionage, and Mark Swidan, sentenced on drug charges.
Nelson Wells Jr. and Dawn Michelle Hunt were "wrongfully imprisoned" over alleged drug-related charges, according to the Dui Hua Foundation, a U.S.-based human rights group that focuses on political prisoners and other at-risk detainees.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
world
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