Advocacy for Detained Mennonites in Vietnam

Vietnamese Mennonite Church leaders in Vietnam and North America have asked their brothers and sisters in Canada and in the Mennonite World Conference to advocate on their behalf regarding religious restrictions and recent arrests of Mennonite Church leaders in Vietnam. Below you will find an invitation to prayer for this situation, documents (received by Mennonite Church Canada from Vietnamese Ministries) that outline some background on the situation, and a call to action to Canadian government authorities.

Response Aids

• Encouragement Card: Download, sign, and send this card to Rev. Quang's family as a way of encouraging the church in Vietnam. (posted July 21, 2005) [1,880KB PDF file, Help with PDF files]
• How can we respond? (posted September 9, 2004, updated January 10, 2005)
• Invitation to host a prayer vigil/call to action (posted June 23, 2004, updated September 9, 2004)
• Advocacy letter template for congregations to send to their elected representatives in Canada (posted June 23, 2004, posted September 9, 2004)
• Advocacy letter template for individuals to send to their elected representatives in Canada (posted June 23, 2004, posted September 9, 2004)

Updates

• Vietnam Mennonite Church formally legalized
  “Mennonite Six” released, but eight more are in custody (posted December 3, 2008)
• Update and Overview from Mennonite World Conference Releases via Vietnamese Ministries:
  • Vietnam Mennonite Church Recognized by Authorities (posted March 16, 2006)
  • Mennonites in Vietnam: Light and Shadow (posted August 3, 2005)
  • Part of Vietnam Mennonite Church Center Torn Down (posted August 3, 2005)
  • Vietnam Mennonite Church Center Destroyed (posted July 21, 2005)
  • Vietnamese Court Sentences Quang and other Mennonite Church Workers (posted November 19, 2004)
  • Mennonite Leaders Harassed in the Central Highlands (posted November 19, 2004)
  • New law restricts Vietnam house churches (posted November 19, 2004)
  • Profile of Nguyen Hong Quang (posted November 19, 2004)
• Compass Direct
  • Harsh Sentences for Vietnamese Mennonite Church Workers (posted November 19, 2004)
  • Imprisoned Vietnamese Christian Hospitalized for ‘Mental Disease’ (posted November 19, 2004)
  • Imprisoned Mennonites Appeal to People's Supreme Court (posted January 19, 2005)
  • Protestants Puzzle Over 'Special Instructions' (posted March 22, 2005

Links to other sources:

• Video Reports from International Release: The Voice of the Persecuted Church
• Vietnamese Police in Midnight Raid on Pastor's House (Radio Free Asia) (link created November 19, 2004)
• New Ordinance on Religions does not provide freedom, says the Archbishop of Huê (Asia News) (link created November 19, 2004)
• Mennonite pastor, five followers sentenced to jail in Vietnam (Yahoo News) (link created November 19, 2004)
• Vietnam: Attack on Mennonites Highlights Religious Persecution (Human Rights Watch) (link created November 19, 2004)
• Vietnam's National Assembly has adopted a Ordinance Regarding Religious Belief and Religious Organization which is to be implemented November 15. Read more.
• US State Dept International Religious Freedom Report 2004 (posted September 22, 2004)
• Human Rights Watch article: Vietnam: Attack on Mennonites Highlights Religious Persecution (link created October 27, 2004)

Background Documents:

• Letter from representatives of Mennonite organizations closely connected to the Vietnamese church. (posted September 9, 2004)
• Church in Dong Nai Province (posted June 23, 2004)
• Incidents in District Two, Ho Chi Minh City (posted June 23, 2004)
• Incidents in Kon Tum City (posted June 23, 2004)
• Profiles of Detainees (posted September 9, 2004)

Mennonite Church Canada Documents

• Letter to the Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam (posted June 23, 2004)
• Letter to the Prime Minister of Socialist Republic of Vietnam (posted January 12, 2005)
• News Release: Prayer vigil for persecuted Christians, imprisoned Mennonites in Vietnam (posted June 23, 2004)