Montagnard pastor sentenced to seven and a half years in prison

A Montagnard Protestant pastor was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on the charge of ‘undermining the national unity policy’ by the People’s Court of Đắk Lắk Province, Vietnam on 5 August. Y Nuen Ayun, born 1967, was also sentenced to four years of probationary supervision following completion of the prison sentence.

According to information presented by state media and the indictment cited during the proceedings, Y Nuen Ayun had been involved in organising and leading unregistered Protestant religious activities since 2003 and later became associated with an individual identified as A Ga, who is reported to reside in the United States and who authorities claim supports separatist movements through Protestant churches in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Prosecutors alleged that, beginning in 2019, Y Nuen Ayun participated in establishing and operating an organisation known as the ‘Church of Christ Central Highlands’ and maintained communication with A Ga regarding religious activities.

The prosecution alleged that Y Nuen Ayun helped organise religious gatherings, conducted online and in-person meetings, recruited participants, submitted reports to overseas human rights organisations, and received more than 7.7 million Vietnamese dong (approximately USD 294) to support organisational activities. The authorities further alleged that these activities were intended to promote the creation of a separate religious organisation for ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands.

State media reports indicate that local authorities had previously met with and warned Y Nuen Ayun regarding his activities. Prosecutors argued that his actions violated Article 116 of Vietnam’s Criminal Code concerning the offence of ‘undermining the national unity policy.’

CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘Vietnam continues to flagrantly flaunt international standards of human rights law in its targeted campaign against freedom of religion or belief, in the process making a mockery of its standing as a member of the UN Human Rights Council. Religious minorities, especially Christians in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, are mischaracterised as wanting to foster anti-Vietnamese and separatist sentiment, when in reality they are simply seeking the right to practice their religion of choice in peace. This is exactly what has happened to Pastor Y Nuen Ayun, and we therefore call for his immediate and unconditional release.’

Note to Editors:

1. The majority of Vietnam’s Montagnard community are Protestant Christians and live in the country’s Central Highlands. The community has a long history of conflict with the Vietnamese government and has faced intense harassment and intimidation since a June 2023 attack on provincial Communist party offices in Dak Lak that left nine dead, including local party officials and police.