Nguyen Bac Truyen

USCIRF ADVOCATE: Anurima Bhargava
Advocacy:
FoRB Victims List and Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Update
USCIRF Calls for the Release of Vietnamese Prisoner of Conscience Nguyen Bac Truyen
USCIRF Commissioner Anurima Bhargava Adopts Nguyen Bac Truyen Through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project
Related Reports and Briefs:
2021 Annual Report
2020 Annual Report
2019 Annual Report
Other Resources:
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
2018 Report on International Religious Freedom: Vietnam
Country:
Vietnam
Key Fact:

Hoa Hao Buddhist and human rights defender

Detained Since:

Jul 30, 2017

Biography:

Nguyen Bac Truyen is a legal expert who leads the Vietnamese Political & Religious Prisoners Friendship Association, which assists prisoners of conscience and their families. On November 17, 2006, Truyen was arrested and sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison on charges of “conducting propaganda” against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. He was released on May 2010. On July 30, 2017, he was again detained, arrested, and ultimately sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment on charges of “carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration.” He is currently serving this sentence.

The Vietnamese government has targeted Truyen due to his human rights and religious freedom advocacy, particularly on behalf of Hoa Hao Buddhists. He is a 2011 recipient of Human Rights Watch’s Hellman/Hammett Award.

Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List

Please visit USCIRF’s Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List to learn more about USCIRF’s efforts to highlight victims who are targeted due to their religion or belief.

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