Family of pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh welcomed by Vietnamese expats in the U.S.
Office of Congressman Alan Lowenthal
Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) applauded the release of prisoner of conscience Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh by the government of Vietnam, while expressing grave concern about the exile and deportation of the Pastor and his family from Vietnam.
“I am grateful that the Pastor has been released, that he is well and he is safe,” Congressman Lowenthal said. “But it also saddens me greatly that a man of religion, a man of peace, has been forced from his homeland for nothing more than defending the universal human right of religious freedom.”
In October 2004, Human Rights Watch reported that several hundred paramilitary police and local officials destroyed Pastor Chinh’shome in Vietnam, which also served as a Mennonite chapel, on charges that Pastor Chinh had violated building regulations. In the following years, Pastor Chinh and his wife faced continuing harassment and even beatings by police.
The Pastor was arrested by Vietnamese officials on April 28, 2011 on charges of “sabotaging the great national unity policy.” The Vietnamese government alleged that Pastor Chinh had given interviews to foreign media and posted articles on the Internet designed to cause divisiveness both within the country, and between Vietnam and other countries. Following a one-day trial in March, 2012, PastorChinh was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
In 2014, Congressman Lowenthal adopted Pastor Chinh as a prisoner of conscience through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s “Defending Freedoms Project,” and has since been advocating for his release with both the Vietnamese and American governments.
“In reality, Pastor Chinh was arbitrarily detained and jailed for simply practicing his faith and exercising his right to religious freedom—a right guaranteed in Vietnam’s own constitution. Pastor Chinh’s peaceful activities in criticizing government policies never justified his continuous imprisonment and the constant attacks and harassment by the authorities against him and his family,” Congressman Lowenthal said.
The Pastor and his family arrived last night at Los Angeles International Airport, after a flight from Vietnam via the Philippines.
“I am relieved that Pastor Chinh is safely in America,” Congressman Lowenthal said. “I am also grateful that our Vietnamese American community has reached out with open arms to embrace the Pastor upon his arrival and offered their support to help him and his family adjust as they move forward on this new chapter of their lives.”
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July 30, 2017
Congressman Lowenthal relieved Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh released by Vietnamese government
by Nhan Quyen • [Human Rights]
Family of pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh welcomed by Vietnamese expats in the U.S.
Office of Congressman Alan Lowenthal
Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) applauded the release of prisoner of conscience Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh by the government of Vietnam, while expressing grave concern about the exile and deportation of the Pastor and his family from Vietnam.
“I am grateful that the Pastor has been released, that he is well and he is safe,” Congressman Lowenthal said. “But it also saddens me greatly that a man of religion, a man of peace, has been forced from his homeland for nothing more than defending the universal human right of religious freedom.”
In October 2004, Human Rights Watch reported that several hundred paramilitary police and local officials destroyed Pastor Chinh’shome in Vietnam, which also served as a Mennonite chapel, on charges that Pastor Chinh had violated building regulations. In the following years, Pastor Chinh and his wife faced continuing harassment and even beatings by police.
The Pastor was arrested by Vietnamese officials on April 28, 2011 on charges of “sabotaging the great national unity policy.” The Vietnamese government alleged that Pastor Chinh had given interviews to foreign media and posted articles on the Internet designed to cause divisiveness both within the country, and between Vietnam and other countries. Following a one-day trial in March, 2012, PastorChinh was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
In 2014, Congressman Lowenthal adopted Pastor Chinh as a prisoner of conscience through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s “Defending Freedoms Project,” and has since been advocating for his release with both the Vietnamese and American governments.
“In reality, Pastor Chinh was arbitrarily detained and jailed for simply practicing his faith and exercising his right to religious freedom—a right guaranteed in Vietnam’s own constitution. Pastor Chinh’s peaceful activities in criticizing government policies never justified his continuous imprisonment and the constant attacks and harassment by the authorities against him and his family,” Congressman Lowenthal said.
The Pastor and his family arrived last night at Los Angeles International Airport, after a flight from Vietnam via the Philippines.
“I am relieved that Pastor Chinh is safely in America,” Congressman Lowenthal said. “I am also grateful that our Vietnamese American community has reached out with open arms to embrace the Pastor upon his arrival and offered their support to help him and his family adjust as they move forward on this new chapter of their lives.”