Additional Name(s): Cao Thị Cúc

Gender: Female

Current Location: Long An Detention Center, Long An

Perpetrator: Vietnam

Ethnic Group: Kinh

Religion or Belief: Buddhist – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 3 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: May/12/2022

Date of Sentencing: July/21/2022

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Online Activity Religious Activity Unregistered Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Subversion

Cao Thi Cuc

Extra Bio Info:

Cao Thi Cuc is imprisoned for her religious activity and expression.

On May 12, 2022, authorities arrested Cao Thi Cuc, a leader of the THIÊN AM BÊN BỜ VŨ TRỤ (TABBVT) Buddhist Monastery (also known as Tinh That Bong Lai and Thien Am at the Edge of the Universe), an independent Buddhist community, and charged her with “abusing democratic freedoms” (Art. 331/2015 VCC).  In January 2022, other members of the monastery were questioned and arrested after authorities accused it of taking advantage of religion and philanthropy for their own personal benefit. A complaint against the monastery was reportedly submitted by the Buddhist Church of Vietnam, the state-backed religious entity, and Thich Nhat Tu, a member of the Buddhist Church of Vietnam’s board of directors.

On June 9, 2022, Cuc was formally indicted, with authorities accusing her and others of creating videos and authoring an article insulting to the Duc Hoa District Police, the Buddhist Church of Vietnam in Long An province, and Thich Nhat Tu.

On July 21, 2022, the Duc Hoa District People's Court sentenced Cuc to three years in prison. 

In late 2022, an appeals court reportedly upheld Cuc's sentence.

Related Cases: Le Tung Van, Le Thanh Trung Duong, Le Thanh Hoan Nguyen, Le Thanh Nhat Nguyen, Le Thanh Nhi Nguyen

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