Imprisoned Vietnamese Christian Hospitalized For ‘Mental Disease’
The sole woman among six Mennonite church workers sentenced to prison in Vietnam last Friday, is hospitalized with a ''mental disease,'' according to prison officials.
The sole woman among six Mennonite church workers sentenced to prison in Vietnam last Friday is hospitalized with a “mental disease,” according to prison officials.
Le Thi Hong Lien, a zealous church worker specializing in teaching the Bible to small children, was arrested on June 30, nearly three months after the March 2 incident involving the five men arrested earlier and tried with her.
On Friday, November 12, Le and the others were convicted of “inciting people to obstruct officials from carrying out their duties.” According to Compass News, those close to the situation say the charges and trial were an artifice to take out of circulation Rev. Nguyen Hong Quang an outspoken leader of the Vietnam Mennonite Church. Nguyen had actively campaigned against religious freedom and human rights abuses.
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During the trial at the Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Court, it became known that Le had been on a nine-day hunger strike prior to the trial. She reportedly appeared very weak and unwell. Her lawyer revealed he had met with her prior to the trial in the prison infirmary.
According to Compass, Nguyen—on trial as the “ringleader” of the group—was so alarmed at Le’s appearance that he asked the court to take her immediately for a medical examination, saying that she showed “clear signs of severe weakness and mental stress.” Though the judge refused, he did, however, agree to allow her to remain seated even when court convention required prisoners to stand.
On the Monday following the trial, Le’s concerned parents went to visit her according to an approved schedule for visitors. However, upon their visit, they were told that she was in the prison infirmary and that they should come back the next day.
Compass reported that when they returned the following day, Nov. 16, they were made to wait for several hours before being admitted to the prison. Once inside they were told that they could not see their daughter because she had been removed to an outside hospital. Authorities refused to tell them where she was but did tell them their daughter “had a mental disease.”
Now given her illness in court, the harsh sentence and her hospitalization, her parents have written and signed a report in which they affirm, “During her time in prison, our daughter was seriously abused and beaten — to the point where it has had serious negative effects on her health and mental condition.” There had also been earlier suspicions that she had been mistreated. Le’s parents had not raised the issue earlier because they were hoping she might be let off with time already served.
After the Nov. 12 trial, Le was sentenced to one year of imprisonment. Her co-workers, Pham Ngoc Thach, Nguyen Van Phuong, and Nguyen Thanh Nhan and Nguyen Hieu Nghia received 2-year, 1-year, and 9-month sentences (respectively). Reverend Nguyen Hong Quang, 45, was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment.
