03/12/2024 Vietnam (International Christian Concern)— U.S. Representative Michelle Steel of California has written a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking for the recognition of persecution in Vietnam by raising political pressure on political prisoners.
The letter created by Rep. Steel highlights the State Department’s failure to follow the recommendations from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which pushed for the designation of Vietnam as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) according to the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA). USCIRF has recommended the U.S. designate Vietnam as a CPC for six years. Instead of granting this designation, the U.S. placed Vietnam on the Special Watch List, a less severe designation, or denied any designation.
While IRFA requires the State Department to designate all countries that engage in or tolerate particularly egregious violations of religious freedom as CPCs, the Department is not required to provide reasoning for its decision. Vietnamese religious minorities have expressed outrage at the less severe designation.
Rep. Steel’s letter highlights the persecution of Christians, particularly those from the Montagnard ethnic group who reside primarily in Northern Vietnam. The Communist Party of Vietnam has begun emulating the Chinese Communist Party in its treatment of prisoners and religious minorities.
Steel writes, “In addition, Vietnamese prisoners of conscience are unable to seek care for their health conditions, are subjected to forced labor, and are banned by prison authorities from religious practices, such as prayer. Some have succumbed to unspecified medical issues and have died while serving life sentences.”
This bold letter created by Rep. Steel demonstrates a much-needed recognition of violations of religious freedom globally. Steel’s letter serves not only the religious communities in Vietnam but also Christians and other religious minorities alike in the United States.
We praise God for the courage He gave Representative Steele to address the situation in Vietnam through the political means available to her as a Congresswoman.
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