Vietnam does not suppress religious freedom.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) slanders Vietnam for violating religious freedom.

"Slander"

Following the above information from USCIRF, reactionary organizations at home and abroad blatantly accused the Vietnamese government of oppressing the religious compatriots of the Montagnards in the Central Highlands, the H'Mong Protestants in the Northwest, followers of the true Cao Dai religion, Hoa Hao Buddhism, the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, the Duong Van Minh religion or Falun Gong. Websites of reactionary organizations abroad such as Thang Tien, Viet Tan, Nghia Kien, Vietcatholic,... continuously disseminate many documents and images distorting the Vietnamese government's religious repression, beating of Catholics; accusing Vietnam of launching a "fabricated media campaign to defame and insult priests and Catholics";...

Hostile media outlets also interviewed a number of individuals - "authorities" in religions such as Priest Hoang Minh Thang (Deputy Director of the Vietnamese Service, Vatican Radio), Pham Dinh Nhan (Chairman of the Vietnam Evangelical Communicating Association),... These "self-proclaimed dignitaries" blatantly slandered that Vietnam is stifling religious freedom.

More blatantly, they also fabricated a story about the death of Priest Anton Nguyen Van Duc (Nguyen Huyen Duc) in Franziskus (Germany) because the Vietnamese government poisoned him "in the process of protecting the land and other properties of the Monastery"; claiming that the incident at "Tinh That Bong Lai" was also a form of suppression of religious freedom.

Obviously, USCIRF believes that Vietnam's suppression of religious freedom is "blasphemy". Because currently, the whole country has an estimated 95% of the population having a religious life; there are 25.5 million religious followers, accounting for 27% of the population, with 43 organizations belonging to 16 religions recognized as legal entities; 60 religious training schools belonging to Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hoa Hao Buddhism; there are 12 newspapers and magazines related to religion; 100% of religious organizations have their own websites.

These figures show the attention of our Party and State in implementing the right to freedom of belief and religion. Religious organizations recognized and granted registration for operation by the State have built and implemented a humane religious practice, demonstrating responsibility to the country and people.

In all localities across the country, religious places of worship are being built spaciously, and the lives of believers are increasingly improving. The authorities regularly grant construction, repair, and upgrading permits to religious places, meeting the legitimate and legal needs of believers and religious organizations. Religious activities, social activities; dignitaries, officials, monks, and religious followers all actively contribute to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland; fighting against activities that take advantage of religion and beliefs to divide the great national unity bloc. Only a very small number of dignitaries and followers of some religions take advantage of the issue of religious freedom to oppose our Party and State and are severely punished according to the law, such as Thich Huyen Quang, Thich Quang Do, Nguyen Van Ly, etc.

Freedom of religion within the framework of the law

In any country, religious freedom or civil and political rights must take place within the framework of the law; there is no absolute freedom, no anarchic freedom, no principles.

Article 18 of the International Covenant states: “The freedom of the individual to manifest his religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.” Thus, the right to freedom of religion or any other right is limited by the law.

The consistent policy of our State is to respect and ensure the people's freedom of belief and religion. No organization or individual is allowed to discriminate on the basis of belief or religion or violate the citizens' freedom of belief and religion. The Law on Belief and Religion, effective from January 1, 2018, has specified the provisions of the 2013 Constitution in the direction of better ensuring human rights and creating favorable conditions for people's religious activities.

Organizations and individuals are not allowed to take advantage of freedom of belief and religion to sabotage peace , independence and national unity; incite violence; divide the people, ethnic groups and religions; disturb public order, infringe upon the life, health, dignity, honor and property of others; obstruct the exercise of citizens' rights and obligations; engage in superstitious activities and commit other illegal acts. This is a very correct, clear and consistent policy of our Party and State on freedom of religion./.

Long An Veteran

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