(Clearwisdom.net)
Montreal, February 25, 2002 -- With the efforts and help from the Canadian Foreign Affairs, Members of Parliament, Amnesty International, and kind-hearted Canadian people, after two years of imprisonment and much suffering in a Chinese labor camp, Mr. Shenli Lin, whom Amnesty International has called a "prisoner of conscience," is finally a free man as he reunites with his wife in Montreal today.
Shenli walked through the gates at Dorval airport in Montreal at 9:50 am, embraced his wife, and then, while surrounded by reporters, thanked all the levels of Canadian government, and all others who helped to set him free. Reporters and many other on-lookers watched as the couple walked together to meet with the local practitioners who had gathered together with banners and flowers and who were singing Falun Dafa Hao.
Several news sources were present such as CBC Television (french), CFCF12, TQS, CJAD, 940 News, Global TV, The Montreal Gazette, etc. Also, a reporter from Asia Radio interviewed Shenli Lin over the telephone.
Jinyu waits for husband Shenli. |
The Security Guards were so moved that they allowed Jinyu to walk all the way up to the gate to greet her husband. |
Shenli Lin rushes through the gates to meet his wife after two years of separation. |
Jinyu and Shenli share a warm embrace. |
Shenli shares some words about the persecution with reporters. |
Jinyu, Shenli, local Montreal practitioners, and Amnesty International. |
Jinyu and her husband Shenli |
Arrested for appealing for Falun Gong and sentenced to a forced labor camp without trial, Mr. Lin was incarcerated for two years. Nobody was allowed to visit him during the entire jail term, and he did not receive any of the letters his wife sent him.
Enduring tremendous physical and psychological abuse, Mr. Lin refused all attempts by the Chinese authorities to force him to renounce Falun Gong. As a result, his imprisonment was extended an additional six months following the first 18-month term.
The day before his second scheduled release, he was threatened with being transferred to another labor camp for more years of imprisonment. He was prepared to spend his life in prison for his belief in Falun Gong; yet he was released because of the great efforts of kind Canadians.
His wife, Jinyu Li, and many fellow Falun Gong practitioners and supporters, have worked tirelessly for his release during the past two years.
Shenli Lin's release is indeed a "Canadian Success story." The Canadian voices pooled from all sectors of society and calling for justice made a difference!