Christians only account for about 10% of Vietnam’s population, and they have long faced an uphill battle in terms of religious freedom. But problems for Christians 
escalated over the last few weeks as Authorities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam reportedly arrested 68 pastors for preaching the gospel and for allegedly refusing to consolidate their churches into a much smaller congregation. These pastors will join over 40 pastors who are already behind bars as authorities attempt to control the growth of Christianity in the region. Many of the pastors have been in jail since 2001.
True freedom of religion allows for the growth of religious minorities, but Christian groups in Vietnam are being unjustly restricted and Church leaders are being inhumanly imprisoned.
A ministry leader in Vietnam, who was given the pseudonym “Su” for security reasons, told ChristianAid, “The government wants to combine [churches] to limit their growth and have more control." He continued, "If the pastors refused to sign a paper saying they would combine and that their gatherings would not go over 500 people, they would be beaten or thrown into prison."
This unjust prison time is even more concerning due to the horrific and life-threatening prison conditions in Vietnam. According to sources, prisoners who do not follow strict protocol are jailed without a trial and some have been poisoned.
Vietnam's Constitution and legal code claim to protect freedom of belief and religion, but there are many restrictions on the growth of religious minorities. Churches are forced to register to hold meetings, and unjust impediments to registration exist in many regions. Religious groups that are seen as a threat to the communist government are often shut down.
We need to let authorities in Vietnam know that the international community is watching to ensure the prompt release of these pastors and that international public opinion will know whether they comply or not.
→ SIGN HERE ←
P.S. When you sign this petition, your note will be sent to Vietnam’s President Trần Đại Quang and Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.