Officials announced on Sunday that an American pastor who had spent nearly 20 years in a Chinese prison has been released and is now back in the United States.

David Lin, aged 68, was detained in 2006 and was sentenced to life in prison on charges of contract fraud by the Chinese authorities.

The U.S. State Department stated, according to Reuters, “We are pleased that David Lin has been released from prison in the People’s Republic of China. He is back in the U.S. and can now reunite with his family for the first time in almost 20 years.”

His daughter, Alice Lin, shared with Politico that her father is on his way home to San Antonio, Texas, after his release.

“We cannot express how thrilled we are. We have so much time to catch up on,” said Alice Lin.

Background on Lin’s Detention

According to ChinaAid, a Christian advocacy organization based in the U.S., Lin began visiting China for missionary work in the 1990s. As a pastor, he was involved in the house church movement, which included hosting religious meetings in private residences.

In 2019, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom warned that individuals involved in house churches often face threats, harassment, and severe legal consequences.

Lin was arrested in 2006 and was accused of contract fraud three years later, leading to a life sentence. He maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal, and his sentence was eventually reduced, with a previous release date set for 2030.

With Lin’s freedom secured, two other American nationals still remain wrongfully imprisoned in China, according to U.S. officials: businessman Kai Li from New York and Mark Swidan from Texas.

Reuters also reported that a congressional committee will have a hearing on American citizens currently detained in China, including Lin, Li, and Swidan, scheduled for next Wednesday.

Contributing: Reuters

Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for YSL News.