Y Yich

Gender: Male

Current Location: An Phuoc Prison, Binh Duong

Perpetrator: Vietnam

Ethnic Group: Bahnar

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Health Concerns: High blood pressure, rheumatism, stomach inflammation

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Sentence: 12 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: May/13/2013

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief Unregistered Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Subversion

Y Yich

Extra Bio Info:

Y Yich was imprisoned for his religious activity.

On May 13, 2013, authorities arrested Yich, a pastor in the Degar Protestant Church, after accusing him of spreading Degar Protestantism, a religious movement not approved by the government, communicating on the internet with Montagnard pastors and separatists living in the United States, and meeting with prisoners of conscience.

Later in 2013, Yich was sentenced to 12 years in prison and three to five years' probation for "undermining national unity policy" (Art. 87/1999 VCC).

Yich has reportedly been tortured while in prison, leading to his health deteriorating.  He suffers from high blood pressure, rheumatism, and stomach inflammation. Prison authorities have also reportedly denied him adequate medical care. 

Yich had been repeatedly harassed by authorities over the decades for his religious activity.  He also spent time in prison between 2006 and 2011.

In May 2025, Y Yich was released from prison.

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) advocated for Yich as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.

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