Press Release from the Interfaith Council of Vietnam on the Suppression of Human Rights and Religious Freedom in Vietnam
To all domestic and international media agencies,
The Interfaith Council of Vietnam (ICV) would like to inform you about the escalating suppression of human rights and religious freedom in Vietnam, especially against Protestant Christians in Dak Lak - Tay Nguyen and other religions across the country.
According to a report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in June 2023, Vice Chairman Frederick A. Davie expressed "particular concern about the increase in forced conversions" by the Communist government of Vietnam. The government's policy of land grabbing from ethnic minorities is also the main cause of the uprising of people in the two communes of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur, Cu Kuin district on June 11, 2023.
The ICV has recorded the following specific acts of repression:
Buddhism:
Preventing Buddhists from attending the Buddha's Birthday celebrations in Hue.
Guarding and surrounding pagodas throughout the Buddha's Birthday celebrations.
Forcibly occupying and leveling Lien Tri pagoda in Thu Thiem, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City.
Cao Dai:
Preventing the reconstruction of the Phuong pillar at the Hieu Xuong Holy See, Phu Yen.
Playing loud music directly at the Hieu Xuong Holy See.
Prohibiting the burial of non-state-run Cao Dai followers at Cuc Lac Thai Binh, Tay Ninh.
Catholicism:
Many assets of the Catholic Church that were previously confiscated have not yet been resolved.
Priest Anton Dang Huu Nam was threatened, denounced, pressured, suspended and defrocked.
Priest Nguyen Van Ly is under house arrest at the Hue retirement home.
The parishes of Binh Thuan, Nghi Loc, Nghe An were robbed of their common road.
Thien An Monastery in Hue was almost entirely taken over to become an entertainment area.
Protestantism:
Mr. Nay Yblang, a member of the Evangelical Church of Christ in the Central Highlands, was arrested and charged with "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State."
The Evangelical Church of Christ in the Central Highlands is being severely repressed.
Hoa Hao Buddhism:
The delegation of the Central Executive Committee of the Pure Hoa Hao Buddhist Church (PGHH) was prevented from attending the ceremony to invite and install the portrait of the Huynh Patriarch.
Prohibiting PGHH commemorations.
The ICV strongly condemns the suppression of human rights and religious freedom by the Communist government of Vietnam. We call on the international community to pay attention and speak out in support of the Vietnamese people in their struggle for religious freedom and human rights.
The ICV also demands that the Vietnamese government:
Immediately stop all religious repression.
Respect and guarantee the right to religious freedom for all people, in accordance with the Constitution and international law.
Return assets to religious organizations that were previously confiscated.
Release prisoners of conscience.
We sincerely hope that domestic and international media agencies will continue to pay attention to and reflect the suppression of human rights and religious freedom in Vietnam.
Sincerely,
The Interfaith Council of Vietnam
Done in Vietnam, on February 16, 2024
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