The Scotsman: Fringe performer faces deportation to China

EDWARD BLACK

A former performer in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival faces being deported to China next week after having her asylum application refused.

Lin Lili arrived in the United Kingdom two years ago and last year took part in the Fan Dancers procession during the Edinburgh Festival parade. She was also due to participate in a similar parade this April but despite being seven weeks pregnant she is currently being held at Manchester Airport and is due to be deported on 7 March.

Human rights authorities fear for her life once she returns to China because she is a follower of Falun Gong, banned by state authorities. They argue that there have been 578 cases of death in detention with thousands of practitioners being held in labour camps.

Her husband, Jinfei Zhang said she had been the victim of a bureaucratic mistake as she was not informed in time about her application for asylum being rejected and did not have a chance to appeal.

"I am extremely worried about what will happen to her if she is deported back to China," he said. "We fear for her safety and life if she is to return to China. Her involvements with human rights activities in the UK against persecution in China are, no doubt, well known to the staff of the Chinese embassy in London."

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