Vietnam Remains Concerned Country for Freedom of Religion: UN Rapporteur

heiner bielefeldt-2015
Heiner Beilefeldt, who studied the current conditions in Vietnam and wrote a report on the country’s achievements and ongoing issues, said Vietnam should continue refining legal regulations on religions and beliefs while clarifying allegations related to those freedoms and expressed his willingness to continue working in Vietnam as a special rapporteur, the media said.
By KTT | Mar 16, 2015

Vietnam has remained among concerned countries for freedom of religion regarding violence given to religious followers, United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief said in a report.

Violence committed in the name of religion could take different shapes and religious believers are prevented from free practices, Heiner Bielefeldt, the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, said in his responses to questions raised in the interactive dialogue in Geneva on March 10.

The report said that Vietnam “identifies positive developments but also a number of serious problems” concerning religious freedom in Vietnam, including legal and administrative restrictions and a “generally dismissive, negative attitude towards the rights of minorities and individuals practicing religions or beliefs that are not registered.”

The Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said the Vietnamese government should not make registration of religious activities and organizations a compulsory legal requirement, and those communities which are not registered should not be subject to violations of their right to freedom of religion or belief.

However, Vietnam’s state media has boasted that the country has made progress in observing freedom, including the expansion of religious dignitaries, followers and worship facilities in recent years.

Heiner Beilefeldt, who studied the current conditions in Vietnam and wrote a report on the country’s achievements and ongoing issues, said Vietnam should continue refining legal regulations on religions and beliefs while clarifying allegations related to those freedoms and expressed his willingness to continue working in Vietnam as a special rapporteur, the media said.

Mr. Beilefeldt, who visited Vietnam between July 21 and 31, 2014, said that Vietnam has “serious violations” of religious freedom despite some progress on easing tight state control of matters of faith.

During the visit, he was told of “concrete violations including repeated summons by police, harassment, house arrest, imprisonment, destruction of houses of worship, vandalism, beatings.”

At least 45% of Vietnam’s 90 million citizens consider themselves as religious followers, including 16% of them being Buddhist, 8% Christians, and Cao Dais, a syncretic religion combining elements of many faiths, account for some 4 %.

Vietnam, which recognizes 12 religious sects, gives strong support to Buddhism only. Communities that suffered include Protestants, Catholics, Hoa Hao and other Buddhists, Caodaists, and Cham Muslims, said CSW.