Profile: Le Thi Hong Hanh - The 88 Project

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Le Thi Hong Hanh

Profile last updated: 2024-06-13

Other Names: Lê Thị Hồng Hạnh

Current Status: Likely released

Activist Focus:

• Religious freedom

Date of Birth: 1979

Gender: Female

Religion: Buddhist (Hòa Hảo)

Ethnicity: Kinh

Known Prison(s): An Phu district detention center, An Giang province (February 9, 2018 - Unknown)

Details

Immediate Concerns

May 2018:

On May 24, a Vietnamese Court in An Giang province denied Le Thi Hong Hanh's and five other Hoa Hao Buddhists' appeals of their February 2018 sentences.

Background

For more background on the harassment of members of the Hoa Hao Buddhist sect, you can view this video (in Vietnamese, with English subtitles), which highlights the struggle of Hoa Hao Buddhist and former political prisoner Mai Thi Dung, who endured horrible treatment in prison.

November 13, 2017: arrest

Arrest November 13, 2017 Charges

• Art. 245 (1999 Code)

Jurisdiction District Location Viet Nam Subsequent EventsFebruary 9, 2018 - Date of trial Lawyers Sentence 3 years in prison Expected Release November 13, 2020 Actual Release Description Details of Imprisonment

February 2018:

Six Hoa Hao Buddhists: Bui Van Trung, Bui Van Tham, Nguyen Hoang Nam, Le Thi Hong Hanh, Le Thi Hen, and Bui Thi Bich Tuyen were tried on February 9 in An Giang province. Bui Van Tham was charged under Article 257 (“resisting persons in the performance of their official duties”) and Article 245 (“causing public disorder”), while the other five were charged under Article 245 of the 1999 Criminal Code. Trung and Tham were sentenced to six years in prison; Nam was sentenced to four; Hanh and Tuyen were sentenced to three; and Hen was given a two-year suspended sentence. According to the indictment by the People's Procuracy of An Phu district on November 30, 2017 (available in Vietnamese here), the defendants "disturbed the public order and impacted the safety and order of the traffic, causing a traffic jam on national route 91C by hindering, obstructing, pushing, and screaming to provoke and denounce transportation police." According to supporters, this is a case of repression against Hoa Hao Buddhist disciples who came for the commemoration of the death of Bui Van Trung's mother at Ut Trung sangha. The cermony was violently attacked by authorities.

May 2018:

On May 24, a Vietnamese Court in An Giang province denied Le Thi Hong Hanh's and five other Hoa Hao Buddhists' appeals of their February 2018 sentences. Authorities tried to prohibit relatives and other Hoa Hao Buddhist followers from attending the appeal trial in support of the six.

Actions Taken

February 2018:

Human Rights Watch called on the Vietnamese government to halt the trial and take time to evaluate whether this was a case of persecution and discrimination based on religious belief. “The government should stop harassing and arresting those who belong to unsanctioned religious groups and leave people to practice their faith as they see fit," said Brad Adams, Asia Director, in the appeal.

The EU's External Action division also denounced the sentences, calling on Vietnam to release those jailed for their beliefs and peaceful practices and to uphold international human rights obligations to protect freedom of religion.

Resources

Hoa Hao Buddhist Family, Friends Handed Prison Terms in Vietnam, Radio Free Asia, February 9, 2018

Vụ đàn áp đạo tràng Út Trung: Kế hoạch đàn áp tôn giáo qui mô ở diện rộng, Dan Lam Bao, February 2018

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