Open Letter – Vietnam: Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển
JAKARTA, 13 August 2020 - Sixty-five current and former parliamentarians from 28 countries have signed an open letter to Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc calling for the immediate and unconditional release of religious freedom advocate, Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển, and for all independent religious organisations in Viet Nam to be allowed to freely conduct religious activities without fear of persecution, harassment and imprisonment.
It has been three years since Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển was abducted by the Vietnamese police, on 30 July 2017. He was subsequently held in incommunicado detention until his trial on 5 April 2018, when he was sentenced, along with five other human rights activists, to 11 years’ imprisonment and three years of house arrest under Article 79 of the 1999 Penal Code for “carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration.” His appeal was rejected and Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển is now in An Diem Prison, Dai Loc district, in Quang Nam Province.
The letter calls on the Prime Minister to:
Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển, and everyone who is currently imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights including their rights to freedom of religion or belief;
Ensure that all religious organisations and groups, particularly those that are unregistered and unrecognised, are able to peacefully exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief and conduct religious activities freely, and that they are not threatened, tortured or ill-treated, detained or imprisoned for the peaceful practice of their faith; and
Ensure all domestic legislation addressing religious affairs, including the Law on Belief and Religion, is brought into conformity with international human rights law, including the ICCPR.