(Clearwisdom.net)
27th February 2003
Right Honourable David Blunkett, Member of Parliament
Secretary of State
Home Office for the United Kingdom
We wish to express our deep concern at the imminent deportation of Chinese citizen and Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Lili Lin, who was arrested and held at the detention centre in Manchester Airport today. Her deportation has been set for next Friday, March 6th 2003.
Ms. Lin applied for asylum in Manchester in October 2001 on the grounds of being a Falun Gong practitioner and is married to Jinfei Zhang, a PhD student at Liverpool University. She has recently announced that she is 6 weeks pregnant. She moved from Manchester to Liverpool to live with her husband and informed the Home Office of her change of address, since when she has regularly reported to the Home Office in Liverpool. However, the Home Office refused her asylum application and sent a refusal letter to her old address, which she did not receive. Her failure to appeal against the decision in time meant she has been listed for deportation.
As you will be aware, the Chinese government has embarked upon a campaign of severe persecution of Falun Gong practitioners since July 1999, resulting in the deaths in custody of nearly 600 practitioners, while many more have been illegally arrested and sentenced to up to eighteen years without trial in prisons, labour camps and mental hospitals, most suffering brutal torture while in custody.
Our grave concern is that Lili Lin would be put in serious danger if she were deported back to China and would be especially vulnerable in view of her pregnant state. She and her husband have been active campaigners against the persecution and have often been to the Chinese consulate in Manchester and the Chinese embassy in London to appeal and demonstrate, and of course the Chinese authorities will be well aware of their activities in the UK.
In view of this we would appeal very strongly to you to show leniency towards Lili Lin by allowing her to remain in the UK, and to avoid certain persecution by the Chinese authorities if she were to be repatriated. We would greatly appreciate it if you would give her case the utmost importance and consideration, and overturn the decision to deport her in the name of humanity.
Yours sincerely,
Vice-Chairman
European Friends of Falun Gong
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Category: Rallies & Protests
