Additional Name(s): Trần Phi Dũng

Gender: Male

Current Location: Prison No. 6, Thanh Chuong, Nghe An

Perpetrator: Vietnam

Ethnic Group: Kinh

Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 13 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/10/2012

Date of Sentencing: February//2013

Date of Release: February/10/2025

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Subversion Treason & Sedition

Tran Phi Dung

Extra Bio Info:

Tran Phi Dung was imprisoned for his religious activity.

On February 10, 2012, authorities arrested Dung, a member of the Buddhist An Dan Dai Dao religious group, and charged him with “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the State” (Art. 258/1999 VCC). His arrest and the arrests of his colleagues throughout 2012 were tied to their activities in a peaceful religious organization called the Council for the Laws and Public Affairs of Bia Son.

In February 2013, Dung was convicted of "carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the People’s Administration" (Art. 79/1999 VCC) and sentenced to 13 years in prison and five years' probation.

In July 2019, Dung and other prisoners went on hunger strike in protest of prison conditions.

On Feb 10, 2025, Tran Phi Dung was released after completing his prison sentence. 

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Tạ Khu

Gender: Male

Current Location: Xuyen Moc Prison, Xuyen Moc, Ba Ria-Vung Tau

Perpetrator: Vietnam

Ethnic Group: Kinh

Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 16 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/6/2012

Date of Sentencing: February//2013

Date of Release: February//2025

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Subversion Treason & Sedition

Ta Khu

Extra Bio Info:

Ta Khu was imprisoned for his religious activity.

On February 6, 2012, authorities arrested Khu, a member of the Buddhist An Dan Dai Dao religious group, and reportedly charged him with “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the State” (Art. 258/1999 VCC). His arrest and the arrests of his colleagues throughout 2012 were tied to their activities in a peaceful religious organization called the Council for the Laws and Public Affairs of Bia Son.

In February 2013, Khu was convicted of "carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the People’s Administration" (Art. 79/1999 VCC) and sentenced to 16 years in prison and five years' probation.

In February 2025, Ta Khu was released from prison.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Phan Văn Thu, Trần Công

Gender: Male

Current Location: Gia Trung Prison, Mang Yang, Gia Lai

Perpetrator: Vietnam

Ethnic Group: Kinh

Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Unspecified/Other

Health Concerns: Diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, heart failure

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Sentence: Life Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/5/2012

Date of Sentencing: February//2013

Current Status: Deceased

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Subversion Treason & Sedition

Phan Van Thu

Extra Bio Info:

Phan Van Thu was imprisoned and died in state custody for his religious activity.

On February 5, 2012, authorities arrested Thu, the founder of the Buddhist An Dan Dai Dao religious group, for allegedly “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the State” (Art. 258/1999 VCC). His arrest and the arrests of his colleagues throughout 2012 were tied to their activities in a peaceful religious organization called the Council for the Laws and Public Affairs of Bia Son.

In February 2013, Thu was convicted of "carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the People’s Administration" (Art. 79/1999 VCC) and sentenced to life in prison. 

On November 20, 2022, Thu died in prison after reportedly succumbing to an unspecified medical issue. 

Thu was in poor health prior to his death, suffering from diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, and heart failure. Prison authorities had reportedly failed to give him proper medical treatment during his time in prison. 

Thu was previously arrested in 1975 in relation to his religious activity.

Publicly Available Information:
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