LONDON (UCAN) -- British Catholics are being urged to write to the Vietnamese ambassador in London, Tran Quang Hoan, for the release of Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly, a priest jailed in Vietnam for disseminating anti-government propaganda.
Father Ly, a prominent advocate of religious freedom, democracy and human rights, has suffered repeated imprisonment over the years. In March 2007, he was sentenced to eight years in prison and five years’ house arrest.
The priest, who is in his 60s, had been accused of disseminating material intended to undermine the government and of communicating with anti-communist groups overseas. Media had also reported that he co-founded the Progress Party and plotted to merge this with overseas reactionary groups to form a new political federation.
The “write-in” appeal in the UK comes from prominent British Catholic, Lord Alton of Liverpool, following the news that a bipartisan group of 37 US senators had written to President Nguyen Minh Triet of Vietnam, calling for Father Ly’s release.
The US-based Freedom Now group, which campaigns for prisoners of conscience, including Father Ly and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said in a statement: “Freedom Now welcomes the support of these senators and joins them in calling on President Triet to release Father Ly and comply with its commitments under international law and its own constitution.”
It also wrote to the Vietnamese president saying: “Given the serious flaws in relation to his arrest, trial and imprisonment, we request that you facilitate Father Ly’s immediate release.” During his trial, which lasted only four hours, Father Ly was restrained and gagged and was not allowed to put forward his own defense.
Lord Alton, also known as David Alton, the former Chief Whip of the now defunct British Liberal Party, highlighted the priest’s case during a visit to Hanoi earlier this year. The UK’s “Catholic Times” quoted him as saying: “This amazing priest was arrested for practicing his faith, calling for religious freedom and expressing his political freedoms.”
He was further quoted as saying: “I am strongly encouraged by these senators’ efforts. It is our hope that the government of Vietnam will heed their call and bring to an end the continued and unjust imprisonment of Father Ly.” He urged people to write “courteous letters” to the embassy in London to support efforts to free the priest.
Father Ly, a prominent advocate of religious freedom, democracy and human rights, has suffered repeated imprisonment over the years. In March 2007, he was sentenced to eight years in prison and five years’ house arrest.
The priest, who is in his 60s, had been accused of disseminating material intended to undermine the government and of communicating with anti-communist groups overseas. Media had also reported that he co-founded the Progress Party and plotted to merge this with overseas reactionary groups to form a new political federation.
The “write-in” appeal in the UK comes from prominent British Catholic, Lord Alton of Liverpool, following the news that a bipartisan group of 37 US senators had written to President Nguyen Minh Triet of Vietnam, calling for Father Ly’s release.
The US-based Freedom Now group, which campaigns for prisoners of conscience, including Father Ly and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, said in a statement: “Freedom Now welcomes the support of these senators and joins them in calling on President Triet to release Father Ly and comply with its commitments under international law and its own constitution.”
It also wrote to the Vietnamese president saying: “Given the serious flaws in relation to his arrest, trial and imprisonment, we request that you facilitate Father Ly’s immediate release.” During his trial, which lasted only four hours, Father Ly was restrained and gagged and was not allowed to put forward his own defense.
Lord Alton, also known as David Alton, the former Chief Whip of the now defunct British Liberal Party, highlighted the priest’s case during a visit to Hanoi earlier this year. The UK’s “Catholic Times” quoted him as saying: “This amazing priest was arrested for practicing his faith, calling for religious freedom and expressing his political freedoms.”
He was further quoted as saying: “I am strongly encouraged by these senators’ efforts. It is our hope that the government of Vietnam will heed their call and bring to an end the continued and unjust imprisonment of Father Ly.” He urged people to write “courteous letters” to the embassy in London to support efforts to free the priest.