Vietnam: Pastor Arrested for Speaking Out on Religious Freedom
Pray for Pastor Quan*, recently arrested in Southern Vietnam for speaking out on social media about human rights violations and religious freedom.
Earlier this year, Quan was arrested at his house in Southern Vietnam, where he stayed with his son Binh*.
The electricity in his house was suddenly cut, and shortly after, a man called pretending to check a fire alarm. When Quan opened the door, police stormed in and handcuffed him without warning.
His son, Binh, recalled: “The police called me and read the arrest warrant accusing my father of spreading anti-state propaganda under Article 117 of the Penal Code. They said he would be detained for four months. They also presented a search warrant and confiscated documents, my father’s phones and laptop, as well as my own.” Authorities searched another family property as part of their investigation.
Binh was later summoned for hours of questioning regarding his father’s activities. However, he couldn’t answer any of their questions, as he had no knowledge of his father’s activities. Eventually, he was released, but the family remains under close watch.
As a Pastor, Quan has long spoken out against human rights violations, government corruption, and land seizures without fair compensation in many provinces. He was particularly passionate about speaking on religious freedom, which is often viewed by the authorities as a violation of the law. Under current Vietnamese law, he could face a prison sentence of 7-12 years, or even up to 20 years.
As Pastor Quan remains in prison, his family and church community request prayers for his safety and release.
Vietnam at a glance
Region
Southeast Asia
- Communist and post-Communist oppression (Very strong)
- Clan oppression (Strong)
Christian population
9,635,000
Main Religion
Buddhism
Pray
- Pray for Pastor Quan’s health, safety, and peace as he is in jail. May the Holy Spirit strengthen and comfort him
- Pray for justice to prevail, and for Vietnamese authorities to act with wisdom and integrity.
- Pray for his family and church members to remain steadfast in their faith and encouraged in this difficult time.
*Representative names and images have been used for security reasons
