Pastor Y Wo Nie

On September 13, 2021, Pastor Y Wo Nie was arrested for taking online courses about several topics including human rights, Vietnam’s civil law, and religious freedom. Authorities alleged that the courses Pastor Nie was taking were held by “reactionary forces”.

On May 20, 2022, a court in Cu Kuin district, Dak Lak province sentenced Pastor Nie to four years in prison for “abusing the right to freedom and democracy” under Article.331 of Vietnam’s penal code. A second charge accusing him of collecting false information about human rights and sending these reports to “reactionary forces overseas”, was not upheld.

A human rights supporter who listened to the trial as it was broadcast over a local loudspeaker commented, “learning about human rights is very good”. And, “If we lived in a civilized world, then the court would declare his innocence, set him free right at the trial, and the investigation agency would apologise to him”.

In 2004 Y Wo Nie was arrested for leading a demonstration demanding more religious freedom and the release of property confiscated by the Vietnamese government. He was sentenced to nine years in prison, but was released in December 2011.

Y Wo Nie is married and has two children.