Human rights 17/06/18 Support for Vietnamese bishops' criticism of religious laws - Interfaith group says the bishops shed light on why religious freedom should be

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Support for Vietnamese bishops' criticism of religious laws

Interfaith group says the bishops shed light on why religious freedom should be a fundamental right

A file image of women praying at a temple in downtown Hanoi. A civil society organization — comprising Cao Dai, Hoa Hao Buddhist sect, Buddhist, Protestant and Catholic leaders — are backing the Vietnamese bishops' criticism of a new law that strengthens state control over religions. (Photo by Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP)

June 23, 2017

An interfaith group has welcomed recent criticism from Vietnamese bishops of a new law that will strengthen the communist government's control over religions.

The Interfaith Council of Vietnam, a civil society organization comprising leaders of Cao Dai, Hoa Hao Buddhist sect, Buddhism, Protestantism and Catholicism, offered their support in a statement on June 18.

"We are happy that the bishops' criticism points out intentions of the Law on Belief and Religion and mentality of the totalitarian atheistic regime in Vietnam," said the council's statement, signed by 27 council members including six Catholic priests.

"The bishops' statement on the religion law sheds light on all people including government authorities to fully recognize religious freedom, one of the most fundamental rights," they said.

The law was ratified by the National Assembly last November and is set to take effect Jan. 1, 2018. It is the first ever law on religions since the country was reunified under communist rule in 1975.

In their statement issued earlier this month, the bishops criticized the law and the government's views of religions and religious organizations.

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