Additional Name(s): A Đảo, A Ma Dũng

Gender: Male

Current Location: Gia Trung Prison, Gia Lai

Perpetrator: Vietnam

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 5 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: August/18/2016

Date of Sentencing: April/28/2017

Date of Release: September/18/2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Freedom Advocacy

Nature of Charges: Illegal Migration & Entry/Exit of Country

A Dao

Extra Bio Info:

A Dao was imprisoned for his religious activity and religious freedom advocacy.

On August 18, 2016, authorities arrested Dao, the pastor of the Montagnard Evangelical Church of Christ, following his participation in the Freedom of Religion in Southeast Asia and the ASEAN Civil Society Conference/ASEAN People's Forum in East Timor.  At these events, he presented the plight of his church and asked the international community for help.

On April 28, 2017, Dao was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly "helping individuals to escape abroad illegally” (Art. 275/1999 VCC).  There are reports that Dao was tortured into confessing.

In September 2018, Dao's wife reported that his health was poor after being repeatedly beaten by other inmates allegedly at the behest of the prison guards. 

Dao is married with two children. 

On September 18, 2020, Dao was released from prison nearly a year before his expected release date. 

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) advocated for Dao as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.

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