Ủy ban Tự do Tôn giáo Quốc tế Hoa Kỳ (USCIRF) đã đưa Việt Nam vào nhóm các quốc gia có tình hình đàn áp tự do tôn giáo “đặc biệt nghiêm trọng”
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE U.S. COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Bản tin đăng lúc 9:00 ngày 14/1/2026, cập nhật lúc 16:25 ngày 15/1/2026
Các báo cáo trong năm 2025 của Ủy ban Tự do Tôn giáo Quốc tế Hoa Kỳ (USCIRF) đã đưa Việt Nam vào nhóm các quốc gia có tình hình đàn áp tự do tôn giáo “đặc biệt nghiêm trọng”, đặt ra nguy cơ nước này sẽ phải chịu những biện pháp trừng phạt nhất định từ phía Hoa Kỳ.
Vào tháng trước, trong bản báo cáo cập nhật về tình hình tự do tôn giáo tại Việt Nam phát hành ngày 9/12/2025, USCIRF đã nhận định tình trạng đàn áp tôn giáo ở Việt Nam vẫn tiếp tục diễn ra mặc dù chính quyền “đã có những bước tiến mới” trong việc công nhận các nhóm tôn giáo.
Trong báo cáo thường niên phát hành hồi tháng 5/2025, USCIRF khuyến nghị Bộ Ngoại giao Hoa Kỳ xếp hạng Việt Nam vào danh sách các quốc gia “đặc biệt quan ngại” (Countries of Particular Concern – CPC) về tình hình tự do tôn giáo, tăng thêm một bậc từ “theo dõi đặc biệt” (Special Watch List Countries) trước đó, do tình trạng vi phạm quyền tự do tôn giáo theo USCIRF đánh giá là “đặc biệt nghiêm trọng”.
Theo Đạo luật Tự do Tôn giáo Quốc tế (IRFA), thuật ngữ CPC dùng để chỉ các quốc gia mà ở đó chính phủ thực hiện hoặc dung túng cho các hành vi vi phạm đặc biệt về quyền tự do tôn giáo, bao gồm hành vi tra tấn, giam giữ không qua buộc tội, bắt cóc, phủ nhận quyền được sống, v.v.
Việc một quốc gia bị đưa vào danh sách CPC có thể dẫn đến các biện pháp trừng phạt từ Chính phủ Hoa Kỳ theo quy định của IRFA.
Việc USCIRF khuyến nghị Bộ Ngoại giao Hoa Kỳ xếp hạng Việt Nam vào danh sách các quốc gia “đặc biệt quan ngại” (Countries of Particular Concern – CPC) về tình hình tự do tôn giáo không được nêu trong bản báo cáo phát hành ngày 9/12 của cơ quan này, mà trong bản báo cáo thường niên phát hành hồi tháng 5/2025.
2025 Annual Report released by USCIRF
Washington, DC — The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released its 2025 Annual Report. The report documents religious freedom conditions in 2024 and recommends policy to the White House, Congress, and State Department to advance freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) abroad. Congress mandated USCIRF’s Annual Report in the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998.
“As repressive governments and violent entities attack and drastically erode freedom of religion or belief, USCIRF’s independent reporting and bipartisan recommendations have never been more critical to U.S. foreign policy,” said USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck. “The U.S. government must continue to stand firm against these threats to the universal right of religious freedom.”
“Despite the escalating threats to freedom of religion or belief, there is real opportunity to stave off any retreat of this fundamental freedom and, if pursued with energy and determination, to advance it,” said USCIRF Vice Chair Meir Soloveichik. “Religious freedom is a clear priority of the United States. USCIRF’s 2025 Annual Report points the way forward for policy that advances religious freedom in a fast-changing world.” Highlights from the 2025 Annual Report include:
Sixteen countries recommended to the Secretary of State for designation as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) for particularly severe FoRB violations under IRFA.
Twelve countries recommended to the Secretary of State for Special Watch List (SWL) designation for severe FoRB violations under IRFA.
Seven entities recommended for designation as Entities of Particular Concern (EPC).
Broad policy recommendations to the Legislative and Executive Branches.
Overview of escalating FoRB challenges in 28 countries, dangers posed by violent entities, and global threats.
Review of FoRB policy implemented by the U.S. government.
The annual report, including all recommendations, can be accessed at USCIRF.gov. Commissioners are available for interviews with the press. To schedule an interview, contact media@uscirf.gov.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief.
VIETNAM
USCIRF–RECOMMENDED FOR COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN (CPC) KEY FINDINGS
In 2024, religious freedom in Vietnam remained poor. The Commu nist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and government increasingly sought to regulate and control religious affairs through state-sponsored religious organizations. Authorities detained, arrested, imprisoned, and tortured members and advocates of unrecognized religious communities that sought to operate independently of state control. The Vietnamese government continued to wield the 2018 Law on Belief and Religion (LBR) and its implementing decrees to strictly govern religious affairs. In March, Decree No. 95/2023/ ND-CP went into effect, replacing two previous implementing decrees—Decree 162 and the punishment decree—which were already restrictive and suppressive, such as by mandating that religious groups report personnel and location changes to the government. This new decree allows authorities to further demand financial records from religious organizations and suspend religious activities for unspecified, vaguely worded “serious violations.” As of December, USCIRF’s Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List included over 80 prisoners whom the Viet namese government has punished for their religious activities or religious freedom advocacy. In March, the government sentenced Y Krec Bya, a Montagnard Protestant missionary of the indepen dent Central Highlands Evangelical Church of Christ (CHECC), to 13 years’ imprisonment. In April, authorities imposed an additional charge on Le Tung Van, the 92-year-old head of the independent Peng Lei House Buddhist Church, who is serving his sentence for allegedly “abusing democratic freedoms” under house arrest due to his age and ill health. In May, a court in Tra Vinh Province upheld the verdicts and sentences on similar charges of two Khmer Krom religious freedom activists, Thach Chuong and To Hoang Chuong. Ethnic Montagnard and Hmong Christians in the Central and Northwest Highlands remained particularly vulnerable to perse cution, including detention, arrest, imprisonment, torture, and forced renunciation of faith. Local authorities actively cracked down on independent Montagnard Protestants’ religious activities. In January, the government sentenced religious freedom activist Nay Y Blang to over four years’ imprisonment for his activities and affiliation with the unrecognized CHECC. In March, preacher Y Bum Bya was found dead after police summoned him to meet after reportedly threatening and beating him. In September, Dak Lak authorities detained evangelist Y Thinh Nie for repeatedly refusing to join the state-controlled church, and they held a public denuncia tion in October to pressure more than 20 Montagnard Christians to join the registered church. Unknown assailants reportedly shot two Montagnard pastors in Dak Lak for leading independent church. The government also pressured the Thai government to extradite Montagnard religious freedom activist Y Quynh Bdap, who could face severe punishment if returned to Vietnam. Government repression against unrecognized Buddhist and Cao Dai groups also persisted throughout the year. In March, Tam Binh District police demolished part of Dai Tho Pagoda after arrest ing its Khmer Krom abbot, Thach Chanh Da Ra, and a follower on the charge of “abusing democratic freedoms.” In November, the Vinh Long provincial court slapped more charges on them, before sentencing additional Buddhists in the same case. In June, police briefly detained popular independent Buddhist monk Thich Minh Tue and his followers in Thua Thien Hue Province. In April, An Giang provincial authorities banned independent Hoa Hao Buddhists from commemorating the death of their founder. The independent Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam continued to face obstacles and harassment over their religious activities. Police officers and followers of the state-controlled Cao Dai 1997 Sect harassed independent Cao Dai followers, preventing their visits to temples, worship practices, and funeral arrangements. In May, police officers interrogated Tran Van Duc after his April meeting with U.S. consular staff on the ongoing harassment of independent Cao Dai adherents.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
■ Designate Vietnam as a “country of par ticular concern,” or CPC, for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious vio lations of religious freedom, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA);
■ Assess the 2005 U.S.-Vietnam binding agreement to determine whether Viet nam’s backsliding in religious freedom violated the terms of the agreement, and take appropriate actions such as linking the removal of Vietnam’s non-market economy status with substantive improve ments in religious freedom;
■ Engage with the Vietnamese govern ment to amend its 2018 Law on Belief and Religion and its implementing decrees to conform to international standards, including by making registration simpler and optional; and
■ Facilitate unfettered access for relevant United Nations (UN) agencies and staff to Vietnam, particularly the Central High lands, to monitor and investigate religious freedom violations before the late 2025 vote on the 2026 UN Human Rights Coun cil (UNHRC) membership. The U.S. Congress should:
■ Advocate for religious freedom improve ments in Vietnam, with an emphasis on the release of FoRB prisoners; and
■ Reintroduce legislative efforts to improve religious freedom in Vietnam, such as the Vietnam Human Rights Act (H.R. 3172). KEY USCIRF RESOURCES & ACTIVITIES
■ Special Report: State-Controlled Religion and Religious Freedom in Vietnam
■ Special Report: Revisiting the CPC Designation: Improving Accountability and Engaging Productively to Advance Religious Freedom Abroad
■ Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List and Appendix 2 VIETNAM Background Vietnam is a religiously diverse country with related demographics varying greatly across available estimates. As of June, the gov ernment officially recognized 43 religious organizations and 16 religions. Religious traditions with a significant presence in the coun try include Buddhism, Hoa Hao Buddhism, Cao Dai, Catholicism, and Protestantism. Vietnam’s constitution acknowledges that all religions are equal before the law and that the state must respect and protect FoRB. In practice, however, the government widely restricts religious freedom—especially for members of independent religious groups— through the 2018 LBR, its implementing decrees, and other laws. Repression of Other Religious Communities Despite a recent warming of Vatican-Vietnam relations, Vietnamese Catholics continued to face serious challenges to their FoRB—includ ing a longstanding government precedent of expropriating Catholic properties. In May, parishioners of Thanh Hai Catholic Church in Binh Thuan Province protested the government’s plan to build a new school on land that the parish reportedly owned. Redemptorist monks in Hanoi also spoke out against the government’s project to build a new hospital on the land of the monastery in Thai Ha Parish, which the city authorities expropriated over half a century ago. The government also continued to persecute groups it deemed as “strange, false, or heretical” religions. For example, in February, the Cao Bang provincial government announced that it had eliminated the activities of the Duong Van Minh religion throughout the province. Similarly, the Dien Bien provincial government also claimed that it had completely eliminated the Ba Co Do religion, an effort the government started in 2017. International Accountability In January, Vietnamese authorities tried and sentenced 100 individ uals—most of whom are predominately Christian Montagnards—on terrorism charges in response to police station attacks in Dak Lak Prov ince several months earlier. In June, UN Special Rapporteurs, including the Special Rapporteur on FoRB, wrote to the government of Vietnam to express their concerns over these and other violations of religious freedom, including the criminalization of religious leaders and worship as well as arbitrary arrests and detention, torture, and unexplained deaths in custody, in connection with that 2023 Dak Lak attack and subsequent mass trial. In August, the UN Special Rapporteurs also expressed concern over the government’s “discriminatory misuse of counter-terrorism law” against Montagnard Christian minorities, which has led to violations including arbitrary arrests and detention, incitement of civilian vigilantes, torture, and forced confessions. In May, Vietnam went through its fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a mechanism by which the UNHRC reviews a country’s human rights record. The government of Vietnam accepted 271 of 320 recommendations but rejected key ones on protecting reli gious freedom, including on ending forced renunciation of faith and amending the LBR. In September, human rights groups issued a state ment to condemn the government’s selective acceptance of the UPR recommendations, arguing that it demonstrates the government’s determination to continue repressing unregistered religious groups, human rights defenders, and independent civil society. Vietnam is a member of the UNHRC and is seeking reelection to the UNHRC for the 2026–2028 tenure. Key U.S. Policy In August, then Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democ racy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya traveled to Hanoi and met with the Vice Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang and the Government Committee for Religious Affairs to discuss advancing religious free dom, among other issues. In September, then President Joseph R. Biden met with CPV General Secretary To Lam in New York, during which then President Biden emphasized the “United States’ commit ment to ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] centrality and respect for human rights.” In March and September, Representative Michelle Steel (R-CA) released statements criticizing the Biden administration for failing to designate Vietnam as a CPC and urging the U.S. Department of State to follow USCIRF’s consistent recommendation for CPC. In June, then Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined three other Democratic senators in writing a joint letter to then Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, urging the State Department to better address growing human rights concerns— explicitly including religious freedom—and to fully integrate human rights priorities into the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relationship. On December 29, 2023, the State Department last placed Viet nam on its Special Watch List under IRFA for severe violations of religious freedom.
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