David Lin, a Chinese-American pastor who had been imprisoned in China for nearly two decades, was released this past Sunday. The 68-year-old pastor's release comes as a significant relief to his family and the U.S. government, which had long maintained that his detention was unjust. Lin had been detained in 2006 after attempting to establish a Christian training center in Beijing, a move that quickly drew the ire of the Chinese Communist Party. His subsequent life sentence in 2009 for alleged fraud charges-a conviction widely seen as baseless-marked the beginning of a nearly 20-year ordeal.
The release of Lin, who had been sentenced to life in prison, was confirmed by the U.S. State Department. "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," the State Department said in an official statement. The Chinese government has not provided any public comment on Lin's release, which coincided with China's Mid-Autumn Festival, a time traditionally reserved for family reunions.
Lin's case had drawn significant attention over the years, with various human rights groups, such as the Dui Hua Foundation, advocating tirelessly for his release. John Kamm, executive director of the Dui Hua Foundation, played a crucial role in these efforts, submitting more than 30 queries to Beijing on Lin's behalf. "This was a long time coming. A lot of people worked on this over the years, different administrations," Kamm told CBS News. However, he emphasized that Lin's daughter, Alice, deserves the most credit for her relentless advocacy.
"We don't know how much time either of us has left. [My father's] sentence was reduced to 24 years, but he is elderly now, and I have cancer. We can't afford to wait."
Alice Lin on her dad, David Lin, the "forgotten U.S. citizen" detained since 2006.https://t.co/7flRWe0yTC pic.twitter.com/9z3YOwcfNO — Bring Our Families Home Campaign (@BOFHcampaign) April 19, 2024
Alice Lin, who had been separated from her father for nearly two decades, expressed immense joy and relief at her father's release. "No words can express the joy we have," she was quoted as saying by Politico. Alice's emotional journey was further complicated by her own health issues; in April, she revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer, adding urgency to her calls for her father's release.
David Lin's detainment was part of a broader crackdown on religious practices in China, where the Communist Party tightly controls all religious activities. Lin, who had frequently traveled to China in the 1990s to spread the gospel, was caught in this web of repression when he sought to establish a Christian training center in Beijing without government approval. The Chinese government, which views unsanctioned religious activities as a threat to its authority, often targets underground churches and their leaders with harsh penalties, including charges of fraud and other criminal activities.
Despite these challenges, Lin's faith and perseverance never wavered. His daughter's advocacy, combined with diplomatic efforts from the U.S. government, eventually led to his release. Lin's case was raised at various high-level meetings between U.S. and Chinese officials, including during U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan's visit to Beijing in late August, where he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Kamm noted that he had begun receiving indications of Lin's possible release a few weeks prior, adding, "My first reaction was to tell Alice."
Lin's release highlights the ongoing issue of Americans detained in China. According to the Dui Hua Foundation, more than 200 U.S. nationals remain imprisoned in China, including individuals like Kai Li and Mark Swidan, who are also considered wrongfully detained. Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized the urgency of securing their release, noting, "Lin's capture, like so many others, marks a rising trend of hostage diplomacy by authoritarians around the world."
