Celil family, lawyer optimistic about release

There’s a renewed sense of optimism in the case of a Burlington man locked up behind bars in China.

Husseyin Celil is serving a sentence of life in prison after being grabbed by the Chinese five years ago. But Tuesday, his lawyer and family were expressing confidence he’ll be set free — even if it takes years. Al Sweeney has the latest.

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Late Tuesday afternoon, the federal Foreign Affairs department told CHCH News that Canada regrets China’s refusal to recognize Celil’s Canadian citizenship, or to allow Canadian diplomats to visit him in jail. It says they’ll raise Celil’s case with Chinese officials every chance they get.