Jeffrey Edward Fowle

Jeffrey Edward Fowle (born 1958)[2] is an American citizen arrested while touring North Korea in May 2014 for leaving a Bible in a club in the northern port city of Chongjin.[3]

Jeffrey E. Fowle
Born1958 (age 62–63)
Miamisburg, Ohio, U.S.
OccupationMunicipal worker
Known forArrest and detention in North Korea
Detainment
Country North Korea
DetainedMay 4, 2014
ReleasedOctober 21, 2014
Days in detention170
Reason for detentionProselytism[1]

Personal life

Fowle is from Miamisburg, Ohio, and worked in the Moraine, Ohio[4] municipal street department.[3] His wife, Tatyana was born in Russia, and they have three children.[3]

Arrest

In May 2014, Fowle was arrested while on a guided tour of North Korea after authorities discovered a Bible he had deliberately left behind in the restaurant toilet at the Chongjin Sailor's Club.[5] Religious proselytism is a crime in North Korea.[1] At the time, Fowle was one of three incarcerated Americans in North Korea. They were individually granted interviews with two U.S. news stations, CNN and Associated Press, pleading for assistance from the U.S. government.[6]

Release

On October 21, 2014, Fowle was released and flown out of North Korea on a U.S. government jet.[1] Sweden facilitated Fowle's release as the United States and North Korea did not have formal diplomatic relations.[1]

References
  1. Jakes, Lara (October 21, 2014). "1 American Released From North Korea". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
  2. Hunt, Joshua (November 2015). "Holiday at the Dictator's Guesthouse". The Atavist Magazine. Archived from the original on March 4, 2019.
  3. Welch, William M. (September 2, 2014). "Who are the Americans held in North Korea". USA Today. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  4. "Jeffrey Fowle, American Detained in North Korea, Was on Vacation, Lawyer Says". Newsweek. Reuters. June 9, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  5. Pearson, James (October 2, 2014). "U.S. Tourist Jeffrey Fowle Was Detained In North Korea For Leaving Bible In A Bathroom". Huffington Post.
  6. Choe, Sang-Hun (September 1, 2014). "In Interviews, 3 Americans Held in North Korea Plead for U.S. Help". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
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