Gangs of nationalist youths terrorised a Christian community in Song Ngoc, northeast Vietnam, attacking a church and homes and targeting Christian business owners, it was reported in June.
Local Christian leaders appealed to the authorities to act, noting that ‘we see that the attacks have been carried out in an orchestrated manner, and the police know well what is occurring, but are ignoring what is going on’.
Incited by help
Some of the perpetrators called for the expulsion of two church leaders who are helping impoverished local fishermen in a legal case against the government following a marine pollution disaster in April 2016.
The communist government ruthlessly cracks down on dissent and Christians are viewed as enemies of the state. All churches are required to be officially registered with the authorities. In November 2016, the government passed a new religion law which was hailed by state media as guaranteeing religious freedom, although the vague legislation banning any religious activity that could ‘harm social order and/or national unity’ seems likely to give authorities leeway to crack down on religious freedom where it is deemed against the interests of the state.
