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.
Cambodia orders Montagnards to leave
Cambodia has told hundreds of Vietnamese Christian refugees to return home or face forced repatriation. The UN estimated in August that over 200 Degars (or Montagnards), who observe a form of Protestantism outlawed in Vietnam, were waiting for their asylum claims to be processed. Cambodia granted 13 of them refugee […]
Vietnam releases Christian activists
Vietnamese authorities have released Catholic blogger Paulus Le Van Son and Protestant activist Nguyen Van Oai, says Asia News. Both served four-year prison terms for ‘trying to overthrow the legitimate government’. The final entries in Van Son’s blog were about prayer vigils, but Reporters Without Borders said at the time […]
Vietnam’s Religion Law
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is drafting a “Law on Belief and Religion,” for passage in the National Assembly in 2016, and possibly this year. It is almost inevitable the new law will disappoint proponents of universal human rights.1 Diverse religions and religious practices flourish in communist Vietnam. Religious believers far […]
Vietnam’s two faces
n Vietnam’s paddy fields and distinctive rock formations are major attractions for tourists. Kristen Elsby / Getty Images As Vietnam celebrates 40 years since the end of what is commonly known elsewhere as the ‘Vietnam War’, its government faces accusations of failing to ensure the rights of its citizens […]
Vietnam harasses ‘released’ Christian lawyer
Vietnamese Christian Nguyen Van Dai says he is regularly intimidated by security officers, despite being recently freed from house arrest. The prominent human rights lawyer was put under house arrest in 2011 after spending four years in prison on a charge of “conducting propaganda against the State”. Recently Dai was […]
Vietnam still violates religious freedom
The message at the annual UN Human Rights Council in Geneva this week was clear: Vietnam still struggles to ensure religious freedom for its citizens. ‘Whereas religious life and religious diversity are a reality in Vietnam today, autonomy and activities of independent religious or belief communities – that is, unrecognised […]
Vietnamese Catholics jailed despite protests
Two Vietnamese Catholics whose arrest led to protests last month have been handed jail terms. Nguyen Van Hai, 43, and Ngo Van Khoi, 53, were ordered on Oct. 23 to serve six and seven months, respectively, for “disturbing public order”. The charges relate to an incident on May 22, when […]
Vietnamese police crush protests against Catholics’ imprisonment
Around 40 people have been injured in Vietnam during a protest against the 3-month detention of two Catholics on minor charges. The protest on September 4 in Nghi Phuong, south of Hanoi, was a response to the police refusal to release Nguyen Van Hai, 43, and Ngo Van Khoi, 53, […]
Two steps back?
On Jan. 1, Vietnam updated its rules for enforcing its highest law regarding religion. Known as the Decree on Religion 92/2012 ND-CP, or simply ND-92, the new decree is meant to clarify rules written in 2005. On close inspection, ND-92 does appear to clarify one thing: Vietnam’s intent to control […]
Vietnamese officials destroy two new church buildings
Vietnamese officials in Muong Cha district, Dien Bien Province, destroyed two new church buildings of ethnic minority Hmong Christians this month and threatened to tear down a third. The Ho He Church, erected in April by the unregistered Vietnam Good News Mission, was demolished on June 17. The Phan Ho […]