ICC Note: In Communist Vietnam, taking a stance in favor of Democracy or greater human freedoms can be dangerous. Yet many Christians find themselves compelled by their beliefs to stand up on behalf of those who are repressed. Even blogging on the internet can get you arrested. Last week, an English language petition signed by leaders from various faiths called on the Vietnamese government to release 14 Catholic and Protestant youth imprisoned for their “political opinions.” Such a public petition is a bold move and could invite further surveillance and restrictions to fall on religious leaders in Vietnam. 
10/4/2013 Vietnam (CSW) – Vietnamese religious leaders have joined together to demand the immediate release of 14 Catholic and Protestant young people currently detained in connection with their “different political opinions”.
An English-language version of the petition, dated 30 August, was posted on the website Vietnamese Redemptorist News on 2 October 2013. The Redemptorists, a congregation within the Catholic Church, have been one of the most vocal groups calling for justice and human rights in Vietnam. However, it is significant that the petition is signed by clergy representing a number of religions in Vietnam, including Catholicism, Protestantism, Caodaism, Hoa Haoism and other variants of Buddhism.
The petition is addressed to members of the National Assembly of Vietnam, religious followers and officials, other governments, and various international institutions and organisations including the UN Human Rights Council. It calls on the Vietnamese government to immediately release the 14 young people and others who are currently detained. The petition also calls on the government to refrain from using torture against prisoners of conscience and to provide medical treatment to prisoners. The petition further asks the international community to supervise the implementation of human rights in Vietnam.
In recent months Vietnam has come under criticism from international human rights groups and governments for its crackdown on freedom of expression and the peaceful discussion of human rights. A number of prominent activists have been arrested and detained. Most recently, on 2 October, Catholic lawyer and human rights activist Le Quoc Quan was sentenced to 30 months in prison on charges of tax evasion. Human rights groups believe the charges are politically motivated.
At the same time, the government has been cracking down on demonstrations by Catholics petitioning for land rights and the release of those detained without trial, as reported by Christian Solidarity Worldwide in August and September.
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