Father Ly, a 65-year-old Catholic priest and human rights activist was re-arrested by Vietnamese authorities this week, ending his temporary medical parole. CSW urges the Vietnamese authorities to release Father Ly.

Father Ly re-arrested while on medical parole

Father Ly was re-arrested at 2.30pm on 25 July at his home in Hue, where he was receiving medical treatment after his release from prison on one year's medical parole in March 2010.  Father Ly is reportedly in very ill health, having suffered three strokes and been treated for a brain tumour.  His medical parole officially expired on 15 March 2011, when it was feared he would be returned to prison.  Since his release Father Ly has been prevented from giving interviews and meeting with fellow activists.  In January 2011 a diplomat from the US embassy in Hanoi who attempted to visit Father Ly was roughed up by police.

Arrested for his human rights work

In March 2007, Father Ly was sentenced to eight years in prison and five years under house arrest for "damaging national security".  He was famously gagged to prevent him speaking at the trial.  Father Ly has been a prominent human rights defender since the 1970s, campaigning for religious freedom, democracy and free media reporting. He is a well-known supporter of the Vietnamese democracy movement, Bloc 8406, and his outspoken work has resulted in him spending more than fifteen years in prison in total.  Human rights activists are under huge pressure in Vietnam where there has been an increase in arrests, and restrictions on freedom of expression, in recent months.

CSW urges Vietnamese authorities to release Father Ly 

Commenting on this latest development in the case, Andrew Johnston, CSW's Advocacy Director, called on the Vietnamese authorities to "consider freeing Father Nguyen Van Ly".  CSW has supported and advocated on behalf of Father Ly since his trial, including for his release as part of the Cut the Chains campaign to the UK Government in 2007.