Human rights organisations from around the world have called on the Vietnamese government lawmakers to reject a proposed new law on religious freedoms until it is brought into line with international human rights standards.

Organisations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights voiced their concerns in an open letter addressed to Vietnam’s National Assembly President Nguyen Kim Ngan.

They argue the law places unacceptable restrictions on the right to freedom of religion or belief and other human rights in the predominantly Buddhist country.

The proposed Law on Belief and Religion has been revised several times, and each time, has drawn increasing criticism from many religious communities.

But human rights organisations have acknowledged the latest draft has been improved from earlier versions including provisions for the right to change one’s religion, as well as to follow or not follow a religion, the right of some detainees “to use religious books and manifest their belief or religion”, and the right of religious organisations to participate in activities such as education, vocational training, medical care and social and humanitarian assistance.

The draft is expected to be voted into law by the National Assembly at some stage in the next two months.

Click on this link to read the full open letter.

– TiVi Tuan-san