The Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang, a prominent Mennonite pastor, was released from prison on 30 August as part of Vietnam's National Day amnesty.

The former General Secretary of the Vietnam Mennonite Church was originally arrested on 8 June 2004 and convicted of inciting others to resist officers doing their duty, and had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment. He always denied the charges against him, despite severe pressure to sign an admission of guilt.

Pastor Quang's prison experience was reportedly a very difficult one. He was held in five different prisons, and suffered abuse at the hands of fellow prisoners. During his detention in a prison in Dak Lak Province, he was subjected to hard labour, with the result that his health deteriorated. At another point, he was imprisoned in a cell with prisoners suffering from transmittable diseases, including HIV/AIDS. At his last prison, his Bible was confiscated.

Pastor Quang returned to his family in the evening of 30 August. His family home is in the building which houses the Mennonite church, which was partially demolished under the supervision of Vietnamese authorities on 19 July. Since Pastor Quang's imprisonment, his Mennonite church has continued to suffer constant raids from the authorities, which now number over 80.

Pastor Quang's wife, Le Thi Phu Dzung, has bravely led the church through the period of her husband's detention. All attempts by the church at seeking guidance on how to gain official recognition with the authorities, including two appeals to the Prime Minister, have gone unanswered.

Although five of the Mennonite six' arrested in connection with an incident on 2 March 2004 have now been released, Evangelist Pham Ngoc Thach remains in prison. He was sentenced on 12 November 2004 to two years in imprisonment and, with Pastor Quang, had his appeal rejected on 12 April 2005. He has suffered severe beatings at the hands of the authorities.

Pastor Quang's release came as part of a general amnesty in which around 10,000 prisoners were freed, in connection with Vietnam's National Day on 2 September.

Tina Lambert, Advocacy Director of CSW, said, We are delighted at the news of Pastor Quang's release, but remain deeply saddened by the great injustice he has suffered. We continue to be profoundly concerned about the pressure exerted on Vietnamese Christians by the authorities, and the serious restrictions on religious freedom.