Two Imprisoned Vietnamese Christians Receive Human Rights Awards
The Vietnam Human Rights Network recently released its 2023 Human Rights award recipients. The awards were given alongside a report detailing different and consistent violations and abuses of human rights for Vietnamese nationals by their Communist government. Two out of the three recipients are imprisoned Christians, recalling the powerful verse in Hebrews 13:3 to remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
Mr. Trần Văn Bang – Bang is currently imprisoned in Bo La Prison Camp (Phu Giao district, Binh Duong province). He was sentenced to eight years in prison in May 2023. He has been arrested several times for various activities as he has fought to end religious persecution, return their ancestors’ land invaded by the communists, and release all ethnic minority political prisoners. After facing allegations of propaganda against the State in March 2023, Bang wrote, “If God has chosen me to be the next person to bear the cross to protect truth and righteousness, then I will obey God’s will.”
Mr. Y Wô Nie – In May 2023, Mr. Y Wô Nie was sentenced to four years in prison for “abusing freedom and democratic rights to infringe on the interests of the State, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations, individual” (Article 331 of the Vietnamese Penal Code). Y Wô Nie’s lawyer reported that when he was sentenced, Mr. Y Wô Nie claimed “Thank God” and prayed day and night for the peace of his Church and his family. Y Wô Nien is being held at prison camp Xuan Phuoc, Phu Yen province.
