Amnesty International Calls for Sending Petition to Vietnam’s Authorities for Release of HRD Nguyen Thuy Hanh

HRD Nguyễn Thủy Hanh

 

Defend the Defenders, June 18, 2021

 

After two months of the arrest of prominent human rights advocate Nguyen Thuy Hanh, the London-based human rights group Amnesty International has launched a campaign calling on the international community to write a petition to Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to urge him to release her.

Mrs. Hanh was detained on April 7 and charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 117 of the Criminal Code carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. A few years ago, she founded the 50K Fund which provides essential humanitarian support to countless unjustly detained prisoners and their families. The arrest of Nguyen Thuy Hanh is likely to have a serious negative impact on the welfare of many unjustly detained prisoners in Vietnam.

Amnesty International says “her selflessness, sincerity, and tireless work on behalf of those in need have made her one of the most widely respected human rights defenders in Vietnam.”

The right organization which has more than 10 million of members worldwide says Vietnam’s authorities must immediately and unconditionally release her as she is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for peacefully exercising her human rights and carrying out vital humanitarian work.

Amnesty International says while pending her release, Vietnam’s authorities should grant prompt, regular and unrestricted access to family visits and access to a lawyer. It requests her treatment in full accordance with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), and is protected from torture and other ill-treatment, including poor conditions of detention and prolonged pre-trial detention.