Vietnamese pastor
denied medical treatment in prison
by Marcus Jone –
Christian News
Sun Jul 02 2023
Concern is growing for a pastor imprisoned in Vietnam over charges linked to his
campaigns for greater freedom of religion in the country.
According to religious freedom charity Christian
Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Pastor Nguyen Trung Ton is suffering from long term
effects of COVID-19 as well as an eye disease which has caused near total loss
of vision.
Local reports claim authorities at Gia Trung
Prison are refusing to allow him to be examined or treated while his family are
unable to send him medicine.
There's further concern over conditions at the
prison with suggestions of a lack of clean water with his wife now said to be
worried for his life.
CSW’s founder president Mervyn Thomas said: "We
are deeply concerned for Pastor Nguyen Trung Ton’s health and call on the
Vietnamese government to ensure that he has access to the urgent medical
attention that he requires.
"We urge the authorities to immediately release
him and other human rights defenders detained unjustly, including Nguyen Bac
Truyen, Pham Van Troi and Truong Minh Duc, all of whom stood trial on the same
day as Pastor Ton in April 2018."
Pastor Ton has been a vocal advocate for the
right to freedom of religion or belief and spoken out against social injustices.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2018 on charges of "carrying out
activities aimed at overthrowing the government".