Vietnam releases 12,000 prisoners

HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam freed more than 12,000 prisoners April 30, its largest amnesty in history, marking the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. But no Christian imprisoned for religious beliefs was known to be among those released. At least 24 Protestant Christians remain in various prison labor camps, according to an April 29 report issued by the World Evangelical Fellowship’s Religious Liberty Conference.

The report included excerpts from interviews with Christians previously incarcerated in Vietnam’s prison system.

The former prisoners painted a grim picture of life in prison. Vietnamese authorities have consistently stated that no one is imprisoned for religious beliefs or activities, only for “criminal offenses,” a common ploy used by communist governments to avoid human rights criticism. Nevertheless, there are increasing reports that the government is adopting a hard line against Christians and targeting them.