10.10.06
Eleven Years After Fleeing Jail and Physical Religious Persecution in China, Chinese Believer is Finally Granted Asylum in the United States...
Last fall, I told you of Xiaodong Li (center), a Chinese Christian who sought asylum in the United States after fleeing from vicious religious persecution in his homeland of China.
In 1995, Mr. Li, was arrested for holding illegal Christian church
services in his home. He was handcuffed, kicked, and beaten with
an electrified bar by the Chinese police. He was jailed for five
days and forced to clean public toilets without pay for his "crime" and
he faced two more years in prison.Through a miracle, Mr. Li was able to leave China and seek asylum in the United States.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) denied Mr. Li's request to remain in the United States. They ruled that he would have to return to China and face imprisonment. The BIA said that China's punishment of Li was the result of simply enforcing its laws -- prohibiting house church worship was not religious discrimination against his Christian faith. Astonishingly the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit --forgetting the reason America was founded -- affirmed that decision and denied his request to remain!
ADF was called in and ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman (above left) represented Mr. Li in an appeal. David successfully resolved the issues and the BIA withdrew its decision that would have led to Mr. Li's deportation. Subsequently, upon ADF's request, the Fifth Circuit vacated its own decision.
Last week, the final chapter of Mr. Li's eleven-year saga for freedom came to a close when the U.S. Immigration Court granted him permanent American asylum. Mr. Li now can enjoy the religious freedoms he was denied in his native country. ADF allied attorney Garrett White of Houston (above right) served as co-counsel on the case.
This case is a reminder that Our First Liberty – religious freedom – is a gift from Almighty God. It's a gift that millions including many of our own ancestors, like Mr. Li, have fled to our shores to enjoy. But it's a gift that we can't take for granted. Sadly, there are forces in our nation that do not share the Founders' view that religious liberty is an inalienable right -- the most important of all other rights. Many would like to silence, even punish, believers like Mr. Li simply for publicly practicing their faith. That's why ADF must have the funds and the capacity to protect, defend, and affirm our religious freedom here at home – so that not only American believers – but our persecuted brothers and sisters can breathe the sweet air of freedom.
Learn more by reading the ADF press release...
ADF
Wins Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for 4th Year in a Row!Last week, Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent evaluator of charities announced that ADF had received a four-star rating – the highest possible – for the fourth year in a row! You can read Charity Navigator's report at www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/5495.htm.
Prayer Requests | Visit the ADF prayer page
"Without Christ, we can do nothing." - John 15:5
- Please continue to pray for the same-sex "marriage"
decision presently pending in New Jersey.
- Please pray for continued wisdom for the many legal battles ahead.
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