Saturday, March 20, 2010

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Suffering Church

The atlas of religious persecution has a panoramic reach and a global context. Historians observe that more Christians have been hounded and killed in the twentieth century than in the rest of Christian history combined. Around the world, living the faith is a crime.

‘Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.’ Hebrews 13:3

Father Nguyen Van Ly has collapsed and suffered a stroke

FREEDOM NOW CONCERNED BY WORSENING MEDICAL CONDITIONAND URGES VIETNAM PRESIDENT TO RELEASE RENOWNED HUMANRIGHTS ADVOCATE FATHER NGUYEN VAN LY

While kneeling to pray on November 14, 2009, Father Nguyen Van Ly collapsed and suffered a stroke. This is the second stroke Father Ly has suffered this year, and as a result he is now paralyzed on the right side of his body. He is currently undergoing tests and treatment at a hospital in Hanoi where doctors believe he may have a blockage in his brain. Father Ly’s family has been permitted intermittent access to visit him and bring him food and changes of clothes from the five or so guards who surround Father Ly’s room.

Father Ly is a 63-year-old Catholic priest and a prominent advocate for religious freedom, democracy, and human rights in Vietnam, for which he has been repeatedly harassed and imprisoned. In a four-hour trial on March 30, 2007, he was accused and convicted of disseminating anti-government propaganda and sentenced to eight years in prison and five years house arrest. During the trial, Father Ly was physically restrained, gagged, and prohibited from putting forth a defense. Since that time, Father Ly has served his time in solitary confinement with limited visits from family. Father Ly is an inspirational symbol among Vietnamese activists and human rights defenders everywhere.

Freedom Now Executive Director Maran Turner stated: “We are very concerned for Father Ly’s welfare and though it seems he is now receiving much needed medical attention, it is vital that Father Ly be released immediately so that he can have consistent medical attention and be with his family without restriction. We ask the Government of Vietnam to release Father Ly immediately both on humanitarian grounds and out of its commitment to honor international law.”

On July 1, 2009, a bipartisan group of 37 members of the United States Senate, led by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) requested President Nguyễn Minh Triết to release Father Ly, noting “serious flaws in relation to [Father Ly’s] arrest, trial, and imprisonment”.

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Fr. Van Ly - Gagged

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this videoThis shocking video shows Fr Van Ly  held and forcibly muzzled at this 21st century show trial in Vietnam in March 2007.

Fr Van was in handcuffs but refused to stand up in court. After he shouted “Down with the Vietnamese Communist Party!” a police office covered his mouth and he was dragged from the court. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for anti-government activities.

The sixty year old priest was accused of setting up a pro-democracy movement. His trial lasted a single day. Fr Van has already spent 14 years in prison. In 2001, Fr. Ly received a 15-year sentence but, led by Lord Alton, we lobbied and won his release in 2005. Now we must do it again.

Those who do not speak Vietnamese will still benefit from watching this brief video of a show trial charade.

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Fr. Van Ly - 2005

Inside the campaign for Van Ly's release.

Father Van Ly - Vietnamese Christian Priest
Fr. Van LyWhen Fr Van Ly was imprisoned for speaking out for social change in Vietnam, his future looked bleak. Mark Rowland reveals how a strategic campaign, coordinated on both sides of the Atlantic, led to a remarkable turn around…

The narrative of human history has been punctuated by men and women prepared to take a stand.

As a priest in Vietnam, Fr Van Ly faced a stark choice: conform or confront. Fr Ly consistently chose the latter. His outspoken and no holds barred challenge to the Vietnamese government to allow true religious freedom put him on a collision course with the Communist authorities.

Bearing in mind that Vietnam has been designated as a country of special concern by the U.S. and is ranked as the fourth worst abuser of religious liberty in the world, Van Ly knew what the consequences of dissent would be.

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Read more: Fr. Van Ly - 2005

   

Jessica Smith Tribute

Jessica Smith - a tributeDanny Smith described the loss of Jessica, his eldest daughter, as an earthquake in his life.  Read more about Jessica..

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