Faith leaders join in call for freedom

Joint declaration decries oppressive laws

Vietnam – Christians and Buddhists have joined in calling on the government to respect religious freedom and to cease using laws to suppress religious communities.

In a Joint Declaration by Vietnamese Religious Leaders, faith communities are united in condemning two specific laws routinely used by the authorities to crack down on them, namely the 2004 Norm on Religions and 2012’s Decree number 92.

According to the religious leaders, the two regulations have become “tools” for police and the Communist Party in controlling the properties and activities of faith communities. The joint declaration calls on the authorities to immediately offer full freedom of religion to all traditions now present in Vietnam.