Christian Chinese human rights lawyer Wu Shaoping, who represented persecuted religious believers and other victims of government repression before fleeing China, was released on bond July 24 after spending nine days in ICE custody despite having been granted asylum in the United States.
Wu was arrested July 15 after Pennsylvania law enforcement stopped him while he was delivering packages for Amazon, as previously reported by ChinaAid News. In coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Wu was taken into custody during what authorities described as a routine traffic stop.
His detention quickly prompted appeals from human rights advocates and members of Congress.
Wu was arrested July 15 after Pennsylvania law enforcement stopped him while he was delivering packages for Amazon.
On Sunday, Wu attended Chinese Bible Church of Lancaster and spoke with reporters after the worship service, according to Lancaster Online. He said he was still recovering from his detention at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, where he struggled to sleep in a large, noisy room shared with about 60 other detainees.
ChinaAid President Bob Fu and numerous advocates urged the U.S. government to release Wu in accordance with legal procedures and not deport him to China under any circumstances, warning that returning the longtime human rights lawyer would place him at grave risk.
Upon his release, Wu sent a brief message to Fu and other supporters, writing, “I am deeply grateful for everyone’s wholehearted help, which made it possible for me to regain my freedom.”
On Monday, Attorney Wu released a lengthy letter expressing his thanks to numerous human rights organizations and naming 229 advocates who spoke out on his behalf: “During my detention, care, solidarity and assistance poured in from all walks of life, bringing immense warmth and strength to my family and me during this difficult time. I would like to extend my most sincere gratitude to all individuals, institutions and organizations that provided support and help.”
Last week, U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, sent a letter urging Wu’s release. Fu also told the Philadelphia Inquirer Wu had expressed deep concern during detention about the possibility of being deported to China.
Wu’s release also has renewed attention on the path that transformed him from a commercial attorney in Shanghai into one of China’s growing ranks of human rights lawyers — and, ultimately, into an exiled Christian.
In 2015, while practicing commercial law in Shanghai, Wu witnessed China’s sweeping “709 Crackdown,” the largest campaign against human rights lawyers in decades. Hundreds of lawyers and legal advocates were detained, many received lengthy prison sentences, and others were forced into hiding or pressured to abandon their work.
Despite the crackdown, Wu chose to join China’s human rights legal movement, representing politically sensitive cases involving house church Christians, Falun Gong practitioners, democracy advocates and other victims of government persecution despite the increasing personal risks.
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