12/24/2024 Vietnam – Christian villagers in Vietnam were recently arrested for preparing to celebrate Christmas and worshipping in non-government-approved churches, International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned.
It’s common for Vietnamese officials to threaten to arrest Christians before the Christmas holiday. This year, Montagnard Christians in the Central Highlands affiliated with an independent church community were targeted, witnesses say.
Conditions for Christians in Vietnam are worse in rural areas. While Vietnam’s socialist government lays the foundation, local officials can arbitrarily restrict worship and harm Christians including abusing, intimidating, and harassing Christians. The government has long targeted ethnic minorities including Christians of Montagnard and Hmong descent for perceived political and religious threats.
ICC learned that in recent weeks, leaders in a handful of villages were invited to meet with local officials and warned that if they celebrated Christmas, prepared to celebrate Christmas, or attended non-sanctioned churches, there would be arrests. Multiple Christians from several villages were arrested on Saturday, Dec. 21. There continues to be a strong police/military presence in certain areas, fomenting fear among Christians. Representatives of the Montagnard community say officials threaten Christians if they decorate their homes, make holiday food, play Christmas music, or gather for Christmas worship.
State-controlled religious groups give the government complete control over religious activities and pressure independent churches to join or risk punishment. Like in China, state-sponsored churches pressure members to quasi-worship government leaders ahead of Christ.
Many Christian families worship in Vietnamese house churches, often very early in the morning to avoid scrutiny.
