Đắk Lắk, September 9, 2024 – The Vietnamese government has intensified its repression of independent religious groups, detaining Montagnard church leader Y Cung Niê for three days, while another leader, Y Thinh Niê, has gone missing in what many fear is an abduction by state authorities.
Y Cung Niê, a respected leader in the Montagnard Christian community, was taken into custody by Vietnamese police on September 6, 2024. His family and community members report that he has been held incommunicado, with no access to legal representation or family visits.
Meanwhile, Y Thinh Niê disappeared on September 7, 2024, after leaving his home in Buon Ma Thuot. Witnesses report seeing him being approached by unidentified individuals in plain clothes, believed to be state security agents. His whereabouts remain unknown.
These incidents represent a continued pattern of religious persecution against Montagnard Christians in Vietnam's Central Highlands. The government systematically targets independent religious leaders who refuse to register with state-controlled religious organizations.
We call on the international community to demand the immediate release of Y Cung Niê and to investigate the disappearance of Y Thinh Niê. The Vietnamese government must respect religious freedom as guaranteed by its own constitution and international human rights treaties.
