World

American pastor arrested in China for nearly 20 years is released

WASHINGTON, D.C.: David Lin, a Christian pastor from California, has been released from a Chinese prison after nearly 20 years of detention.

Lin, who had been sentenced to life in prison on contract fraud charges, returned to the U.S. and reunited with his family, the U.S. State Department confirmed on Monday.

Lin, now 68, was detained in China in 2006 after entering the country to assist an unauthorized church. Advocacy groups, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, reported that Lin’s arrest was part of a broader crackdown on unregistered religious activities in China. Lin denied the charges of contract fraud, often used against leaders of unsanctioned churches, throughout his imprisonment.

Alice Lin, David’s daughter, expressed her joy in a message shared with Bob Fu, founder of China Aid, a U.S.-based group that advocates for religious freedom in China. “Praise God! We got the call late last night!!! Dad is free and over Alaska now,” she texted just before the family reunion.

The Biden administration has worked for years to secure the release of Lin and other Americans detained in China, raising their cases in diplomatic meetings with senior Chinese officials.

“We welcome David Lin’s release from prison in the People’s Republic of China,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “He has returned to the United States and reunited with his family for the first time in nearly 20 years.”

Lin’s case is emblematic of China’s restrictions on religious freedom. All churches in China must register with the government and pledge loyalty to the Communist Party, making unregistered congregations illegal. His sentence, initially set for life, had been reduced, with a scheduled release in 2030.

Lin’s release follows ongoing advocacy for other Americans detained in China, including Kai Li and Mark Swidan, who remain imprisoned on charges the U.S. government considers dubious. Efforts continue to secure their freedom.

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