Release International

New pictures available of the Mennonite Six

As Vietnam prepares to release another of the jailed Mennonite Six, an international campaign is being launched to free the remaining Christians who have been imprisoned for their faith. They include a young woman driven out of her mind by constant beating.

Pham Thi Phuong Trang, wife of imprisoned evangelist Nguyen Van Phuong, with baby son Trung Tin (Faithful).

The Vietnamese authorities are due to release evangelist Nguyen Van Phuong on March 2. But believers still behind bars include children’s worker Le Thi Hong Lien, a 21-year-old woman who was beaten and abused until she lost her mind. Another of the Six has been crippled by his captors.

‘Every day these believers remain behind bars, the world looks on in horror at a regime that cripples Christians and drives young women insane,’ says Eddie Lyle, the Chief Executive of London-based Release International, which supports the persecuted Church.

‘These persecuted Christians have mandated Release International to launch an international campaign to end the horror. We call on Vietnam to free the Mennonite Six. Let God’s people go.’

The Mennonite Six were arrested after church members challenged men behaving suspiciously around their church. They turned out to be undercover police officers. Sentences ranged from nine months’ to three years’.

Four of the Six remain in jail. They include the General Secretary of the Vietnam Mennonite Church, Nguyen Hong Quang. This lawyer and human rights activist is serving a three-year sentence. His appeal was due to be heard on February 2, but was postponed without reason.

His wife, Le Thi Phu Dung, has been harassed by the authorities but continues to lead the congregation, which meets in her home in Ho Chi Minh City. She said: ‘As a pastor my husband wants to protect people. As a lawyer he wants to speak up for the oppressed and persecuted. That is why the government has arrested him.

‘My children asked me: “Why have the police arrested Father? He has not committed any crime. He hasn’t killed anyone or stolen anything. We pray that we will grow up quickly so we can take Father’s place and serve God.”’

Left to right: Pham Thi Phuong Trang (wife of imprisoned church worker Phuong); Nguyen Thanh Nhan, recently released; Pastor Quang’s wife, Le Thi Phu Dung, and Le Quang Du, father of the young girl who has been driven insane, Le The Hong Lien.

A Vietnamese lawyer, who has asked to remain anonymous, said the Six are ‘victims of a tyrannical regime which oppresses religion and human rights.’

The Mennonite Six are:

• Nguyen Hong Quang, General Secretary of the Vietnam Mennonite Church, jailed for three years
• Nguyen Van Phuong, evangelist, due for release on March 2, 2005
• Le Thi Hong Lien, 21, driven insane, due for release in June 2005
• Pham Ngoc Thach, evangelist, sentenced to two years’
• Nguyen Hieu Nghia, church elder, released
• Nguyen Thanh Nhan, (22), teacher, crippled by his captors, released

Release International is a member of Global Connections (formerly EMA) and the Evangelical Alliance. It is a member of the International Christian Association, founded by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, which operates in 30 nations.

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