Vietnam: Christians attacked, houses destroyed

Four Vietnamese Christian families – 24 people in all – have been attacked by a mob led by the village chief. Four of the victims were hospitalised for eight days after the attack, with injuries to their heads and arms.

Four Vietnamese Christian families – 24 people in all – have been attacked by a mob led by the village chief. Four of the victims were hospitalised for eight days after the attack, with injuries to their heads and arms.

All four families are from the Hmong people group who live in a northwest province in Vietnam. They only recently converted to the Christian faith.

The provincial authorities had told them not to continue with their newfound faith while village leaders had threatened that unless they renounced Christianity they would be forced to leave their village.

The families’ pastor is understood to be in talks with local authorities about the incident.

’Remarkable’ growth

Vietnam’s Hmong people live mainly in the country’s northwest and central highlands. Among the one million Hmong in Vietnam, there are an estimated 400,000 Christians – a much higher proportion than in Vietnam’s population as a whole (about nine per cent). This remarkable growth has been seen as a threat to traditional religion and customs.

Vang* is a 28-year-old father of two from a village in northwest Vietnam. He was the first person in the village to convert to Christianity. As a result of his commitment to Christ, he has been physically attacked. His brother beat him so hard that it has left his arm permanently disabled. Following the beating, the mob also destroyed his house. The wooden ceiling, walls, doors and windows were all smashed to pieces.

This video featuring Vang* comes from the Open Doors Doors Prayer News DVD. Find out more.

Vang was forced to leave his village. He says the destruction of his house was intended as a ‘warning’ to other villagers not to turn to Christianity. He says, “The government told me they will take my land and my animals because I believe in my God.”

The local Hmong authorities view Christianity as a threat, according to an Open Doors spokesman. “They view Christianity as something that is challenging their culture, their heritage,” he said. “Many Hmong shamans and non-Christians fear that their culture is being lost.”

Typically, new Christians abstain from drinking alcohol (which is seen among the Hmong as an important part of male bonding) and no longer take part in traditional religious rituals and ceremonies.

2017 - the worst year for dissidents

Vietnam’s treatment of religious and other minorities is coming under increasing scrutiny. A new Law on Belief and Religion, which came into effect this year, has been widely criticised. The repression by the Vietnam government of religious and other freedoms is causing increasing concern. It was raised at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. In a report published on 5 March, the Former Vietnamese Prisoners of Conscience (FVPOC) described 2017 as the ‘worst year’ for dissidents, with ‘brutal’ attacks by government agents on ‘people who disagree with government policies’.

* Name changed for security reasons.

Please Pray

• For complete healing of the four believers and that the 24 believers would continue to stand up for the truth
• For their pastor as he tries to set a meeting with the local authorities
• For believers in rural areas of Vietnam as they face intimidation, violence and oppression.