Congressmen Lowenthal and Royce Urge Returning Vietnam to “Countries of Particular Concern” List Over Religious Restrictions

Congressmen Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) and Ed Royce (CA-39) today urged Secretary of State John Kerry to exercise his authority under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to return Vietnam to the list of "Countries of Particular Concern" (CPC) because of government moves to restrict religious freedom.

In a letter, Congressmen Lowenthal and Royce point out that Vietnam was removed from this list in November 2006 because of supposed government progress on increasing religious freedom for the Vietnamese people.

"In the nearly ten years since Vietnam was no longer considered a CPC, however, the Vietnamese government has demonstrated a lack of progress on respecting religious freedom and has time and again violated its citizens' fundamental right to freely practice their religion," the Congressmen said in the letter.

The letter points out numerous recent incidents in Vietnam where the government has mistreated worshippers of all faiths. These include the imprisonment of Lutheran pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh since 2012 and the detention and beating of his wife, Ms. Tran Thi Hong, by Vietnamese government security forces earlier this year.

Just last month, government authorities demolished the Lien Tri Buddhist Temple in Saigon, an important symbol for the community with over 70 years of history.  In addition, the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV), whose leader Thich Quang Do remains under house arrest, continues to be subjected to restrictions on its freedom to operate and practice.  The temple has long served as a meeting place and shelter for human rights activists, civil society, and NGOs.

Congressmen Lowenthal and Royce write in the letter that the government of Vietnam "…has continued work on a draft law on religion with the potential to increase government interference in religious activities and oversight of religious organizations. Designating Vietnam as a CPC would provide incentive to the policymakers drafting the law on religion to respect religious freedoms in the new law."

To read the full text of the letter, click here.