Religious freedom in Vietnam remains poor as the government regulates and controls religious affairs through state-sponsored organizations. Authorities routinely detain, arrest, imprison, and torture religious freedom advocates and members of unrecognized religious groups that seek to operate independent of state control. Various independent religious groups such as Cao Dai, Hoa Hao Buddhists, Khmer Krom Buddhists, and Hmong and Montagnard Christians continue to suffer under this persecution. 

Source: Buddhists pray as they pay homage to late King Tran Nhan Tong during a celebration to mark his 700th death anniversary on Yen Tu mountain, RUETERS / Kham

Religious freedom conditions in Uzbekistan continue to deteriorate as the government retreats from previous reforms. Authorities have increasingly invoked an expanding and restrictive legal framework to target Muslims who deviate from the state’s preferred interpretation of Islam as well as members of other religious groups. The state routinely penalizes peaceful activities, including religious expression and education, through detention, fines, and prison sentences.  

Source: Minaret, USCIRF

Religious freedom conditions in Turkmenistan remain terrible as the government holds tight control over the religious sphere, criminalizing and viewing all independent religious activity with profound suspicion and backing that distrust with a large surveillance apparatus that monitors the religious activities of all communities within the country and abroad. Religious groups must navigate a restrictive legal framework, including intrusive registration criteria.  

Source: General of the official religious centre of Geok-Tepe, built to commemorate the brutal slaying of thousands of Turkmen, RUETERS / Zhumatov