The International Christian Concern (ICC) expressed deep concern over their country’s President To Lam’s election, warning that Vietnamese Christians, particularly those from minority ethnic groups, are likely to face increased persecution under Lam’s leadership.
On August 3, 2024, Vietnam’s President To Lam was elected as the new Communist Party general secretary, raising concerns among religious freedom advocates. Lam, known for his harsh stance on human rights and minority religions like Christianity during his tenure as head of the Ministry of Public Security, reaffirmed his commitment to communist ideologies in his acceptance speech.
Vietnam falls under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, under the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with the Russian Orthodox Church also having three parishes there. Most Christians in Vietnam are Roman Catholic or Protestant.
Read the announcement published by International Christian Concern on August 7, 2024:
8/7/2024 Vietnam (International Christian Concern) — On Aug. 3, Vietnamese President To Lam was elected as the country’s next Communist Party general secretary, a move that concerns religious freedom advocates.
In his acceptance speech, the 66-year-old reaffirmed his commitment to Vietnam’s communist ideologies. Lam previously led Vietnam’s Ministery of Public Security, an agency known for its continuous crackdown on human rights activists and minority religions, such as Christianity.
“This move is bad news for Christians in Vietnam and Vietnamese Christians from minority ethnic groups who have fled Vietnam to other nations,” an International Christian Concern (ICC) staffer said. “To Lam’s record against Vietnamese Christians and human rights defenders is well documented. As a ministry supporting and strengthening suffering Christians, we must watch Vietnam even closer to ensure Christians there can endure the coming trials they are almost certain to face under this new Communist Party leadership.”…
Source: archons.org
