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Vietnam

  • Authorities destroy historic Christian building


    Parishioners have held candlelight
    prayer vigils for months.
    Photo from    AsiaNews

    On September 19, government authorities bulldozed a building in Hanoi, Vietnam after a long-standing land dispute between Christians and officials, according to a September 26 report from Compass Direct. The building, which once served as the Vatican embassy and residence, was seized in the mid-1950s by the government. Late last year, Christians began holding prayer vigils and protests in response to the government's refusal to give back the land. In February, government leaders promised to negotiate a settlement with the believers over the property on the condition that the prayer vigils ceased. The government took no action, however, and Christians resumed the vigils in August. Christian leaders are calling the government's response to the believer's peaceful protests a serious setback to the religious freedom in Vietnam. Authorities are reportedly planning to use the leveled premises for a library and park.

    Pray for the government to change its mind and act justly in this situation. Pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen Christians in Vietnam in their hearts, minds, and bodies as they face opposition to their faith.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Vietnam, go to ourVietnam Country Report.
  • Christian Lawyers Receive Sentences
    Nguyen Van Dai
    Lawyer for the "Mennonite Six"
    After a four-hour trial on May 11, Nguyen Van Dai and Le Thi Chong Nhan, two Christian Lawyers facing accusations relating to their defense of religious freedom (click here for more information), were convicted of "propagandizing against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam." According to a May 16 report from Compass Direct, Dai received a sentence of five years in prison and four years of house arrest. Nhan was sentenced to four years in prison and three years of house arrest. Both of them are expected to appeal to the People's Supreme Court, which is the last court of appeal in Vietnam.

    In the weeks leading up to the trial, the state media made several accusations against the lawyers, including allegations that they compiled "evidence of Vietnam's suppression of the Protestant religion" and cooperated with terrorists in their efforts to promote human rights. These and other accusations were posted on the Vietnam News Agency website one day prior to the trial date.
  • Christian Lawyers Face Trial
    Nguyen Van Dai
    Lawyer for the "Mennonite Six"
    Nguyen Van Dai, a 38-year-old member of the main Hanoi congregation of the legally-recognized Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North), or ECVN (N), since 2000, was arrested on March 6 for accusations relating to his defense of religious freedom, including disseminating "alleged infractions of religious liberty [to Vietnam's enemies abroad]." Dai is one of Vietnam's few human rights lawyers and is a member of Advocates International, an organization which brings together Christian human rights lawyers from many countries. He defended the "Mennonite Six" in 2004-2005.

    Also arrested in early March was Dai's colleague, Le Thi Cong Nhan, who faces similar accusations. Both are due to be tried on May 11 for defaming the communist state of Vietnam. It is expected that the trial will be nothing more than a charade.

    Authorities have prohibited Dai's wife, Khanh, from visiting him and she has not been provided with any legal papers. By law she should have received a copy of the arrest order at her husband's March 6 arrest citing the reasons for his "temporary detention." Her home phone and cell phone services have been cut. Police have reportedly been trying to incite neighbours against her.

    The Voice of the Martyrs is urging Christians from around the world to pray for and to send letters/cards of encouragement to Mrs Khanh immediately. For more information, a sample letter and the address to which you can write, please go to persecutedchurch.blogspot.com.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Vietnam,click here.
  • Priest Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison

    For the past several years, The Voice of the Martyrs has been following the case of Vietnamese priest, Father Nguyen Van Ly. Sentenced to fifteen years in prison in 2001, he was released early in January 2005. A month ago, it was reported that Ly had been indicted for propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under article 88 of the criminal code (click here for more details). On March 30, after a one-day trial, Ly was sentenced to eight years in prison. Four co-defendants were given sentences ranging from eighteen months of suspended jail time to six years in prison.

    Ly has been an outspoken opponent of the oppressive communist government in Vietnam. In a surprise move, the government allowed foreign journalists to observe the trial. 

    For more information on persecution in Vietnam,click here.
  • Catholic Priest Indicted

    Vietnamese police have indicted Father Nguyen Van Ly for propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under article 88 of the criminal code. Ly has already spent ten years in prison because of his efforts to promote religious freedom.

    As many as sixty officers raided Ly's home on February 18, taking hundreds of documents, six laptop computers and numerous cell phone SIM cards. They returned six days later and moved him outside of the city where he is now under virtual house arrest while awaiting the criminal proceedings.

    In 2001, Ly was sentenced to fifteen years in prison but was suddenly released in early 2005 as part of an amnesty (see the details).

    Pray that all charges against Father Nguyen Van Ly will be dropped. Ask God to give Christians in Vietnam a boldness of faith that draws others to Him (Matthew 5:14-16).

    Pray that the persecution of Christians by Vietnamese authorities will decrease and that freedom of religion will be recognized throughout the country.

    For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Vietnam,click here.A new 14-page report on religious freedom in Vietnam was released this week by the Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Go to the weblog page to download a copy.
  • Christians Arrested, Church Building Partly Demolished

    Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang
    On January 9, local police broke up a prayer meeting at the headquarters for the Vietnam Mennonite Church in Ho Chi Minh City and arrested seventeen Christians, according to a January 9 report from Compass Direct. Following the raid, police demolished part of the church building, which also serves as the family residence for Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang. 

    At approximately 8:20 a.m., the police stormed the church building and demanded that the prayer meeting be halted.  Although the Christians agreed to end the meeting, police proceeded to arrest seventeen of the Christians and had them detained at the local police station.

    Pastor Quang's mother-in-law and his 12-year-old son, Huy, were among those who were arrested. Also arrested were a child named Truc (12) and a pregnant woman named Thuong. While detained, some of the women were reportedly grabbed by their hair and some of the Christians were hit and slapped. Huy and Truc were taken into a separate room where they were screamed at and threatened. All of the Christians were released at 5:00 p.m. that evening.

    Pastor Quang, a leader in Vietnam's Mennonite Church and an advocate for religious liberty, has been beaten, arrested and imprisoned for his Christian work. More information on Pastor Quang and his detention can be found on VOMC's website. To find a summary of Pastor Quang's story, click here. To view all related VOMC news stories click here. Observers are concerned that this incident may signal a renewed persecution of Vietnam's Church now that there is less international attention on Vietnam due to the U.S.'s removal of the country from its list of the world's worst violators of religious freedom in November.

    Thank God for the bold faith of Pastor Quang and his congregation. Pray that they will remain faithful to the task the Lord has given them, knowing that they will receive the crown of life (1 Peter 5:1-4). Pray that Christians in Vietnam will be encouraged to meet together for worship and prayer, in spite of opposition from authorities.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Vietnam,click here.
  • Harassment of Church Culminates in Police Raid

    The Full Gospel Church in Thieu Vien in the Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa has been active since 1999 without any apparent opposition. Starting in April 2006, however, Public Security Police have been consistently harassing the church members. The harassment turned to violence this month, according to Jubilee Campaign.

    On June 4, the congregation was meeting for prayer in the home of Ms. Minh when security police broke in. Some of the members were assaulted as they were taken to the police station where they were warned to stop meeting at Ms. Minh's home.  On June 18, security police again raided Ms. Minh's home, detaining Nguyen Trung Ton, Hac Ngoc Si, Ms. Nhan, and Mrs. Lan. Ton and Si were seriously beaten while under interrogation. All were forced to sign a statement that they would not meet at the home again for Bible study.

    Pray that Lord will protect this congregation and enable them to meeting. Pray that they will rejoice in the opportunity to grow in Christlikeness through the ongoing opposition they face (James 1:2-4). Ask God to strengthen and heal those who have been assaulted.

    For more information Vietnam and the persecution facing Christians there,click here.
  • Brutal Attack on Mennonite Headquarters
    The Voice of the Martyrs sources in Vietnam report that on May 22, 2006 at 2:30 pm, a raid was conducted on the Mennonite house church situated at C5 H1 Tran Nao St, Binh Khanh ward, District 2, in Ho Chi Minh City.  As many as fifty security officers, police and hired thugs forced their way into the building, kicked down doors and began to severely beat the pastors, the Christian construction workers and other believers present.  They were punched and beaten mercilessly by electric prods and cudgels. Pastor Nguyen Hong Quang received shocks from an electric prod and was beaten by a cudgel. Another church worker, Nguyen Hieu Nghia, was kicked in the chest and struck by a cudgel. Brother Tran Minh Hoa was hit and forcibly pulled down from the roof. The attackers destroyed repairs being done to the house, which also serves as the home of Pastor Quang.  All the materials used on the building were confiscated by the authorities and brought to the Binh Khanh ward.

    Pastor Quang had apparently received a building permit to repair damage done to the building on July 19, 2005 by security officers who alleged that part of the building had been illegally constructed (click here for details and photos of the original destruction). Authorities claim the recent raid was because the repairs went beyond the scope of the building permit.

     
    A number of church members were arrested, including former Mennonite prisoners Nguyen Hong Quang, Pham Ngoc Thach, Nguyen Huu Nghia and Le Thi Hong Lien.  Some were handcuffed and others were dragged to the Binh Khanh ward office where, once they were out of public view, they were beaten further. Some of them were released after a few hours of interrogation. Others were released at midnight. The last to be released was Pastor Quang, who was freed on Tuesday evening (May 23), about 28 hours after his arrest.

    Compass Direct noted in a May 26 report that observers are puzzled that Vietnam would risk such potentially negative publicity at a time when it is diligently seeking be removed from the U.S. State Department's list of Countries of Particular Concern of religious liberty offenders (click here to read more). Removal from this list is necessary if Vietnam is to receive entry into the World Trade Organization, which it desires greatly. One source speculates that local officials may have done this independently because of an ongoing animosity against Quang and the Mennonite Church.

     
    Pray that the building project will be allowed to continue. Pray that those who sustained injuries will recover quickly and be able to continue the work God has given them. Pray that they will be able to find joy in the fact that they are able to participate in the sufferings of Christ and find hope in the fact that He will be glorified through them (1 Peter 4:12-13).

    For more information on the ongoing persecution of Vietnam's Christians,click here. 

     
  • Property of Christians Burned

    In July and August of 2005, several homes belonging to Hre Christians in Vietnam's Quang Ngai province were destroyed at the instigation of police (click here for the details).  On March 7, five more homes were burned down according to an April 3 report from Compass Direct. At the same time, the homes of four other Christian families were raided and anything of value was taken. On March 4, storage buildings of two Christians were also burned, destroying their rice supply.

    Church leaders believe these recent attacks were either instigated or at least permitted by local police.  There have been no charges laid and it is unlikely there will be any legal action taken against those responsible.

    Pray that the believers will have deep joy, even when they have lost so much (1 Peter 4:12-13). Pray that the Lord will provide for the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of these brothers and sisters. Pray that they will continue to be faithful to the call of God to share Christ with others.

    For more information on the persecution endured by Vietnam's Christians,click here.
  • Last of Mennonite Six Released

    At 7:40 a.m. on March 3, a delegation led by Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang greeted Pham Ngoc Thach as he was released from the Z30A Prison in Xuan Loc after serving two years in prison. Thach is the last of six Mennonite workers arrested in 2004 to be released. During his imprisonment, Thach endured beatings from police and fellow prisoners and hard labour, which included digging graves for fellow prisoners who died.

    The Vietnam Mennonite Church believes the release of these workers can be directly attributed to the international attention to this case.  "The leadership committee of the Vietnam Mennonite Church wishes to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to all who prayed, worked on behalf of, and supported our workers imprisoned because of their faith."

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