Violence against Christians is increasing in Vietnam, yet the Church is growing among ethnic minorities. Christians who come from a Buddhist or animist background experience the strongest pressure, both from their communities and the authorities. Christian ethnic minorities, such as the Montagnards, also face fierce opposition. All Christian groups are monitored by the government, registering churches is difficult, and a new law on religion and belief limits religious groups by controlling meetings.
New religion-control law changes little in Vietnam after 1 year
Christian leaders in Vietnam largely agree that little has changed since the new Law on Belief and Religion came into effect January 1, 2018. Its potentially positive provisions are unevenly applied, and completely ignored in remote areas where ethnic minorities continue under heavy persecution and yet convert to Christianity. On […]
Vietnam frees Catholic blogger but upholds 20-year sentence for another activist
A Vietnamese Catholic blogger arrived in the United States last week after she was released from jail unexpectedly, reports the Catholic news site UCAN. Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, also known as “Mother Mushroom”, was sentenced in June last year to ten years in prison for posting what police described as […]
Vietnam uses ‘national security’ to detain rights activists, UN told
Vietnam has been accused of “misinforming” the international community about the human rights issues in the country. The president of the Paris-based Vietnam Committee on Human Rights, Vo Van Ai, speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, condemned the alleged “brutal crackdown on freedom of expression, association, peaceful […]
Vietnamese Christian rights defender exiled to Germany after release
Vietnam has released a Christian human rights lawyer and his assistant – both of whom were given long prison sentences in April – and sent them to Germany. No statement was issued by the government on the release of Nguyen Van Dai, 48, and his assistant, Le Thu Ha, on […]
Vietnam’s ‘country of concern’ recommendation welcomed
The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) has welcomed the recommendation that Vietnam be designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said on 25 April that it wanted six more countries, including Vietnam, to be added to the US State Department’s […]
Another ‘harsh’ jail sentence for a Vietnamese Christian
A court in Vietnam has jailed a Catholic rights activist for nine years. Teresa Tran Thi Xuan, 42, was convicted on 12 April of “attempting to overthrow the people’s government”, reported Catholic news agency UCAN. Fellow Christian human rights activist Nguyen Van Dai was jailed earlier in April for 15 […]
Vietnam jails Christian rights defender for 15 years
Christian human rights lawyer Nguyen Van Dai was jailed for 15 years today, 5 April, for activities “aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration”, as Reuters reported. His wife, Vu Minh Khanh, said she was “very disappointed” but that Dai will “continue to fight and will appeal the verdict”. Five other […]
Contrasting freedoms for Vietnam’s Christians
The growth of Christianity in Vietnam has been charted by World Magazine, which says religious freedoms enjoyed by those living in cities are in stark contrast to the country’s rural areas. Catholicism has a centuries-old history in Vietnam, but Protestant churches only sprang up last century, the Christian publication notes, […]
Hmong Christians hospitalised after mob attack in Vietnam’s northwest
Four Vietnamese Christian families – 24 people in all – have been attacked by a mob led by the village chief, local sources have revealed to World Watch Monitor. Four people were hospitalised for eight days after the 1 March attack, with injuries to their heads and arms. All four families are […]
Vietnam: 2017 was ‘worst year’ for dissidents
Vietnam’s communist government was criticised again this week over its treatment of dissidents. In its latest report, published on 5 March, the Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience (FVPOC) said the 43 people arrested in 2017 for challenging the state was more than double the combined number detained in 2016 (11) […]