Persecution of Christians in Vietnam: the persecution of Le Dinh Luong even in prison has ominous implications for all the Christians of Vietnam, and is yet another example of how the persecution of Christians is often abetted by or even initiated by government authorities.
Vietnam is under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, which is subject to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Russian Orthodox Church also has one parish in the Vietnamese port city of Vung Tau. Otherwise, most Christians in Vietnam are Roman Catholic, like Le Dinh Luong, or Protestant.
For previous coverage of the persecution of Christians in Vietnam at ChristianPersecution.com, see here.
“Imprisoned Vietnamese Activist Banned from Reading Bible,” International Christian Concern, October 13, 2020:
10/13/2020 Vietnam (International Christian Concern) – Vietnamese activist and veteran Le Dinh Luong, who was arrested on July 24, 2017 for alleged subversion, while serving his 20-year sentence, has been denied the use of Bible and the Catholic calendar.
According to human rights activist Quynh Dao, a member of Amnesty International Australia, Mr. Luong began a hunger strike on October 4 since “The prison limited and even didn’t allow him to use the Bible and the Catholic calendar, violating his religious freedom.”
In addition, the Nam Ha prison environment is toxic, as there have been mining activities nearby which go on day and night. Small particles from burned substance often fly into prison cells. As a result, Mr. Luong’s breathing is obstructed.
He is also banned from using pen and papers, so even though he wants to pen letters of grievance, he is unable to. The prison continues to silence him by snatching the phone from him [during his conversations with his family] whenever he criticizes the treatment he receives at the prison….
