Vietnam penalized 119 Christians accused of alleged separatist activities: reports

Vietnamese authorities took enforcement action against 119 Christians in Gia Lai province during the first half of 2026 over alleged ties to separatist-leaning religious and ethnic minority groups, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Citing the Vietnamese newspaper Tuổi Trẻ, CSW said police identified, investigated, and “handled” the 119 people and opened two criminal cases naming four defendants. The alleged conduct involved two movements: the United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races (FULRO) and what the government calls “De Ga Protestantism.” The actions were described as linked to separatism in the Central Highlands, with officials including Gia Lai Provincial Police head Maj. Gen. Le Quang Nhan briefing Public Security Minister Luong Tam Quang. The report also refers to a separate April case involving a network tied to FULRO within the Ba Na community.