Release International

Mennonite pastor Nguyen Hong Quang was beaten unconscious by Ho Chi Minh City officials today (December 14) as they bulldozed his Bible school.

Pastor Quang, one of the so-called 'Mennonite Six' jailed in 2004, is currently being held at a undisclosed location after being beaten with batons 'until he fainted', according to Release sources. Pastor Quang and five members of his congregation were detained for allegedly 'resisting arrest' six years ago.

At 7am Vietnamese time, about 500 police, soldiers and fire officers arrived with bulldozers at the pastor's school in the city's District 2 and proceeded to demolish the property.

Twenty students from the school were also arrested and interrogated. Release partner Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) Australia reports that police specially drafted in from the Central Highlands region were on hand to escort students back to their provinces. Montagnard Christians from this region make up a large proportion of the Mennonite Church in Vietnam.

VOM Australia also reports that Pastor Quang's wife, Phu Dung Le, and his three children are safe.

Release sources suggest that the whole attack appeared carefully planned and co-ordinated. It follows a series of critical reports about Pastor Quang that appeared in a government-owned newspaper in September. Leaders and Bible college students linked with Pastor Quang have come under intense pressure from officials to give up their association with the Mennonite church since October.

(Source: Voice of the Martyrs Australia)

• Please pray for the immediate release of Pastor Quang and his students. Ask God to keep him, his family and his students safe – and in His perfect peace.
• Pray for the officials involved in this demolition. Ask God to touch them through the witness of the Christians.

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