Timmerman Outraged by Forced Eviction of Chinese Dissident from American Embassy

Statement

Ken Timmerman, Republican candidate for Maryland's Congressional Eighth District and a recognized international religious freedom advocate, released the following statement today on the plight of Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng:

"The deceptive and forced removal of blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng from protection in the American Embassy in Beijing is a shameful act by the Obama administration.

"Mr. Chen, a blind self-taught lawyer, had made a daring escape from house arrest, where he and his family had been confined for two years because of his peaceful campaign for freedom in China and for his opposition to government-forced abortion.

"Mr. Chen said his captors had abused his family and that he feared his wife would be beaten to death. He publicly begged U.S. Secretary of State Hillary to take him with her to the United States when she leaves Beijing.

"It is shameful that an American President would order the American Embassy in Beijing to turn over a blind, ailing freedom activist to a brutal Communist regime. I urge Secretary Clinton to grant Mr. Chen's request and fly him and his family to America on her official plane."

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