Mel Gibson urges China to free Mark Swidan, an American imprisoned for 10 years.

Actor Mel Gibson Raises Awareness of American Citizen’s Plight in China

Oscar-winning director Mel Gibson is calling for action to help American citizen Mark Swidan, who has been imprisoned in China since 2012 and placed on death row for a drug charge that was never proven by the Communist country’s prosecutors.

“Mark Swidan has been wrongfully and unlawfully imprisoned by the Chinese for almost 11 years,” the Passion of the Christ director told News Nation last week. “He faces a death sentence. He’s a man of great faith, an American patriot, and he refuses during his captivity to renounce either his faith or his country,” Gibson added.

The Patriot star urged Americans to speak out and contact their representatives in Washington to advocate for the federal government to call for Swidan’s release.

• The U.S. State Department has ruled that Swidan has been “wrongfully detained” and says it will “continue to press for his immediate release.”
• The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for the Texas man’s release this week.
• The United Nations has also determined that Swidan was arrested and prosecuted in violation of international law.

Despite these efforts, Swidan’s wife says few people in a position to help her husband are interested in pushing for his release. “You know, it’s like Mark doesn’t exist,” Katherine Swidan said. “I’ve contacted so many people, and he’s never No. 1.”

Swidan’s health is failing, and he has allegedly lost his teeth, lost at least 100 pounds, and has tried to commit suicide multiple times. Chinese authorities have also denied visits by U.S. consular officers to the Jiangmen prison where Swidan is being held to review his condition.

“I ask for all of you to raise your voices and demand Mark’s release and to pray that he’s returned to his family,” Gibson concluded.

Let us all join Mel Gibson in advocating for Mark Swidan’s release and for justice to be served.