Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Vietnam

Ethnic Group: Ede

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 14 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: April/10/2018

Date of Sentencing: January/31/2019

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Freedom Advocacy Reporting on Religious Freedom Conditions or Documenting Religious Freedom Violations Unregistered Religious Activity

Nature of Charges: Subversion

Y Pum Bya

Extra Bio Info:

Y Pum Bya is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On April 10, 2018, Vietnamese authorities arrested Y Pum Bya, a church leader, after accusing him of spreading false information about Vietnam's violations of minority rights and religious freedom in order to convince people to join efforts to establish an independent state. While at the Ea Drong Commune police station, he was allegedly interrogated about his religious activities, tortured, and forced to sign commitments to stop worshipping in a group while belonging to the Gospel Missionary Church. Prior to this most recent arrest, authorities threatened Y Pum Bya with arrest for his religious activities. On March 15, 2017, Y Pum Bya requested permission to register unregistered religious activities in Ea Drong Commune; however, authorities quickly rejected that request and police threatened him with arrest and imprisonment if he continued to engage in his religious activities.

On January 31, 2019, Y Pum Bya was sentenced to 14 years in prison and four years’ probation for “undermining national unity policy" (Art. 87/1999 VCC). He is currently imprisoned at Gia Trung Prison in Gia Lai Province.

Y Pum Bya was arrested and imprisoned previously for his religious activity. On February 28, 2002, Vietnamese authorities arrested Y Pum Bya after he requested authorization for unregistered house-churches to conduct religious activities. On December 25, 2002, Y Pum Bya was sentenced to eight years in prison and four years’ probation for “undermining national unity policy" (Art. 87/1999 VCC).

Y Pum Bya is married with children.

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

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