Latest Report: Vietnam Holds 246 Prisoners of Conscience
According to the Now! Campaign the government of Vietnam is holding at least 246 prisoners of conscience in various detention facilities. This has increased from the 165 reported cases in November 2017, when the campaign was launched. This makes the country the second largest jailer of dissidents in the region, ranking only behind Myanmar.
The above number includes 219 people who have been convicted – typically of political crimes such as “propaganda against the state” and “injuring the national unity” – and 26 others who are being held in pre-trial detention, as well as one (Venerable Thich Quang Do, the Supreme Patriarch of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam) under indefinite house arrest. Bloggers, lawyers, unionists, land rights activists, political dissidents, and followers of non-registered minority religions have been arrested and detained for peacefully exercising their internationally and constitutionally protected rights, principally the right to freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of religion or belief. The list does not include individuals who have engaged in or advocated violence.
Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh Pastor A Dao Bui Van Trung
(aka Mother Mushroom)
In the first nine months of 2018, Vietnam has arrested 24 human rights activists. By the end of September, it has convicted 33 activists and sentenced them to a total of 225.5 years in prison and 56 years of probation. In addition, 60 persons were convicted in connection to the mass demonstrations that started in mid-June, where tens of thousands of protesters opposed the two bills on Special Economic Zones and Cyber Security. The demonstrators were sentenced to a total of 113 years and five months in prison and 89 months of probation.
Join NOW! and call on the government of Vietnam to release immediately and unconditionally all prisoners of conscience and peaceful human rights activists being held in pre-trial detention. For more information, visit www.vietnampocs.com.
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