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Case History: Bui Thi Minh Hang

Status: 
Released
About the situation

On 13 February 2017, human rights defender Bui Thi Minh Hang was released from prison after serving her sentence in full.

Bui Thi Minh Hang has been held in An Binh prison in Cao Lanh city since 11 February 2014. In August 2014, she was charged with “causing public disorder” and sentenced to three years in prison.

About Bui Thi Minh Hang

Bui Thi Minh HangBui Thi Minh Hang is a human rights defender and blogger, who has documented human rights violations in Vietnam, provided support to victims of land grabs and advocated for freedom of religion.

14 February 2017
Bui Thi Minh Hang released from prison after serving full sentence

On 13 February 2017, human rights defender Bui Thi Minh Hang was released from prison after serving her sentence in full.

Bui Thi Minh Hang has been held in An Binh prison in Cao Lanh city since 11 February 2014. In August 2014, she was charged with “causing public disorder” and sentenced to three years in prison.

11 May 2015
Bui Thi Minh Hang denied access to her family and lawyer

Imprisoned human rights defender Bui Thi Minh Hang has been denied access to her family and lawyer. She is currently on hunger strike in protest against her treatment in prison.

Bui Thi Minh Hang is a human rights defender and blogger. She publishes information on human rights violations in Vietnam, in particular land rights, and provides support to victims of land grabs.

On 4 May 2015, the son of Bui Thi Minh Hang filed a complaint with prison and state justice officials, contesting the ongoing mistreatment of the human rights defender at Gia Trung Prison Camp. The complaint detailed two recent instances of refusal by prison officials to allow Bui Thi Minh Hang's family to visit her, and the rejection of a request for visitation made by her attorney. Prison officials claimed her refusal to wear prison uniform as the reason for disallowing visitation by Bui Thi Minh Hang's family. No reason was given for the refusal of permission for her attorney. Requests to send parcels to the human rights defender have also been denied without explanation.

Bui Thi Minh Hang has been on hunger strike since 2 April 2015. She began her strike in protest against her harsh treatment by prison guards, who have reportedly attempted to incite hostility towards the human rights defender amongst her cell mates, and against the decision of authorities at Gia Trung Prison Camp to confiscate all her regular clothes in response to her refusal to wear prison uniform.

Bui Thi Minh Hang is currently held at Gia Trung Prison Camp, approximately 700km from her home, following her transfer from An Binh prison in Dong Thap province. On 12 December 2014, the Dong Thap Appellate Court in Vietnam upheld the sentence of three years' imprisonment issued against Bui Thi Minh Hang on 26 August 2014 by the People’s Court of Dong Thap province. She had been sentenced under Article 245 of Vietnam's Criminal Code for “causing public disorder”. Whilst being held awaiting trial, Bui Thi Minh Hang went on a six week hunger strike in protest at her detention. The human rights defender was initially detained along with 21 other activists as she attempted to visit the partner of an imprisoned human rights lawyer. Whilst 19 of those detained were released the next day, Bui Thi Minh Hang was one of three who were retained and charged.

In June 2012, Bui Thi Minh Hang was released after serving six months of an order for two-years in a 're-education camp'. The order was made by the People’s Committee of Hanoi City, reportedly in response to the human rights defenders' work on land rights.

Front Line Defenders expresses its grave concern at the recent attempts to cut off communication between Bui Thi Minh Hang and the outside world. Front Line Defenders believes that her sentencing is solely related to her human rights work, concerning land rights in particular, and urges the authorities in Vietnam to quash her sentence and bring about her unconditional release.

18 December 2014
Court upholds imprisonment of Ms Bui Thi Minh Hang and two other protesters

On 12 December 2014, the Dong Thap Appellate Court in Vietnam upheld the previous sentence handed down to human rights defender Ms Bui Thi Minh Hang and two other protesters Mr Nguyen Van Minh and Ms Nguyen Thi Thuy Quynh, who were imprisoned on charges of “causing public disorder” under Article 245 of the Vietnamese Criminal Code.

Bui Thi Minh Hang is a human rights defender and blogger. She publishes information on human rights violations in Vietnam and provides support to victims of land grabs. Bui Thi Minh Hang was previously sent to a 're-education camp' for two years by the People’s Committee of Hanoi City, and was eventually released after six months in June 2012. Her conviction is believed to have resulted from the human rights defender's work on land rights. Bui Thi Minh Hang was one of 21 people beaten and detained when they attempted to visit the partner of a human rights lawyer who defends victims of forced evictions. The visit was to provide support to the woman after the detention of her husband in a police raid on their house on 9 February 2014. 19 of those detained were released the next day, but Bui Thi Minh Hang and two other activists were charged with “causing public disorder” and kept in custody.

On 26 August 2014, in a one-day trial, Bui Thi Minh Hang was sentenced by the Court of First Instance to three-years' imprisonment. Her co-defendants, Nguyen Van Minh and Nguyen Thi Thuy Quynh, religious workers from the independent Buddhist Church, faced two-and-half-year and two-year sentences respectively.

In recent weeks, Vietnamese authorities have intensified the crackdown on freedom of expression, arresting two prominent bloggers. On 29 November 2014, police in Ho Chi Minh City detained blogger Mr Hong Le Tho charging him with “abusing democratic freedoms against the interest of the State” under Article 258 of Vietnam's Criminal Code. The suthorities accused Hong Le Tho of posting articles in his blog which included false information that “discredit state agencies and create distrust”. On 6 December 2014, the police in Ho Chi Minh City detained blogger Mr Nguyen Quang Lap under the same charges for posting articles online criticising the ruling Vietnamese Communist Party and the government.

Front Line Defenders is gravely concerned about the recent verdict of the Dong Thap Appellate Court and the continued imprisonment of human rights defender Bui Thi Minh Hang. Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Vietnam to immediately and unconditionally release her and her co-defendants.

11 December 2014
Appeal court to rule on conviction of Ms Bui Thi Minh Hang who was sentenced to three-years' imprisonment

On 12 December 2014, Dong Thap Province Appellate Court in Vietnam is expected to examine the sentence of human rights defender Ms Bui Thi Minh Hang who was sentenced earlier this year to three-years' imprisonment under Article 245 of Vietnam's Criminal Code for “causing public disorder”.

Bui Thi Minh Hang is a human rights defender and blogger. She publishes information on human rights violations in Vietnam and provided support to victims of land grabs. Bui Thi Minh Hang was previously sent to a 're-education camp' for two years by the People’s Committee of Hanoi City, and was eventually released after six months in June 2012. This conviction is believed to have resulted from the human rights defenders' work on land rights. Bui Thi Minh Hang was one of 21 people beaten and detained when they attempted to visit the partner of a human rights lawyer who defends victims of forced evictions. The visit was to provide support to the woman after her husband was detained during a police raid of their house on 9 February 2014. Eighteen of those detained were released the next day, but Bui Thi Minh Hang and two other activist were charged with “causing public disorder” and remained in custody.

On 26 August 2014, in a one-day trial, Bui Thi Minh Hang was sentenced by the Court of First Instance to three-years' imprisonment. Her co-defendants, Mr Nguyen Van Minh and Ms Nguyen Thi Thuy Quynh, religious workers from the independent Buddhist Church, faced two-and-half-year and two-year sentences respectively.

The public were not allowed to attend the trial even though, according to Vietnamese legislation, it must be held publicly. The police blocked the entrance to the court building to prevent the public from attending and a number of prominent human rights defenders were stopped or taken into custody by security officials prior to the trial. Approximately 33 individuals were detained and several activists in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were barred from leaving their homes in the days before the trial.

The witnesses for the defence were also prevented from attending the trial, despite the fact that they were officially summoned to the court hearing. According to the human rights defenders' lawyers, they were only informed of the criminal charges against their defendants and of the police investigation's findings several days prior to the trial, contravening Vietnamese legislation which stipulates that the lawyers must be informed further in advance.

Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Vietnam to overturn the conviction of Bui Thi Minh Hang in the Appeal Court, as she was prosecuted solely for her peaceful and legitimate human rights work.

28 August 2014
Human rights defender Ms Bui Thi Minh Hang sentenced to three years imprisonment

On 26 August 2014, human rights defender and blogger Ms Bui Thi Minh Hang was sentenced to three years imprisonment by the People’s Court of Dong Thap province.

Along with her, the court sentenced her fellow blogger Nguyen Thi Thuy Quynh to two-year imprisonment, and Nguyen Van Minh, a member of the Hao Hao Buddhist sect, received a two-and-a-half-year jail term.

Ms Bui Thi Minh Hang was one of 21 people beaten and detained when they attempted to visit the partner of a detained human rights lawyer who defends victims of forced evictions. The visit was meant to provide support and solidarity to the lawyer's family after his detention during a police raid on their house on 9 February 2014. 19 of those arrested were released the next day, but Bui Thi Minh Hang, Nguyen Thi Thuy Quynh and Nguyen Van Minh remained in detention and were charged under article 245 of Vietnamese Penal Code for “causing public disorder”.

A six-week hunger strike in February-March 2014, in protest against her detention, caused serious concerns for Bui Thi Minh Hang's health. She was also severely beaten at the time of the arrest. It is reported that she had pre-existing health problems, including kidney stones, that may have been aggravated by the hunger strike.

Front Line Defenders expresses concern regarding the sentencing of Bui Thi Minh Hang and Nguyen Thi Thuy Quynh. Front Line Defenders is particularly concerned about Bui Thi Minh's health conditions. We urge the Government of Vietnam to quash the sentence as it appears to be solely motivated by their legitimate human rights activities.

11 April 2014
Continued detention of human rights defender Ms Bui Thi Minh Hang

Front Line Defenders is concerned by the continued detention of human rights defender and blogger Ms Bui Thi Minh Hang. She is held in An Binh prison in Cao Lanh city since 11 February 2014, charged with “causing public disorder.”

The health of the human rights defender is of serious concern as Bui Thi Minh Hang was on hunger strike for six weeks in protest at the detention and was severely beaten at the time of the arrest.

Bui Thi Minh Hang is a human rights defender and blogger. She publishes information on human rights violations in Vietnam and provided support to victims of land grabs. Bui Thi Minh Hang was previously sent to a 're-education camp' for two years by the People’s Committee of Hanoi City, and was eventually released after six months in June 2012. That detention is believed to have resulted from the human rights defenders' work on land rights.

Bui Thi Minh Hang was one of 21 people beaten and detained when they attempted to visit the partner of a human rights lawyer who defends victims of forced evictions. The visit was to provide support to the woman after the detention of her husband in a police raid on their house on 9 February 2014. 19 of those arrested were released the next day, but Bui Thi Minh Hang and two other persons remain in detention and were charged under article 245 of Penal Code for “causing public disorder”. They face a possible sentence of three years' imprisonment. The human rights defender was interrogated on 23 March 2014 without her attorney, as her attorney was only notified the next day. Bui Thi Minh Hang was questioned again on 31 March 2014, but this time in the presence of her attorney.

According to the human rights defender's attorney, Bui Thi Minh Hang was on hunger strike until 30 March 2014. The attorney visited the human rights defender on that date and reported that, due to the six week hunger strike, Bui Thi Minh Hang had suffered significant weight loss and needed assistance to remain standing. It is reported that she had pre-existing health conditions, including kidney stones, that may have been aggravated by the hunger strike. Bui Thi Minh Hang was also beaten severely during her arrest.

Bui Thi Minh Hang's family have also experienced harassment in their attempts to obtain the release of Bui Thi Minh Hang. They have raised the case with local authorities and when they attempted to lodge a complaint with higher authorities in Hanoi on 23 March 2014, they were briefly detained.

In addition, a number of persons have reportedly been questioned by the police and asked to sign fabricated witness statements incriminating Bui Thi Minh Hang. Those questioned state that they refused to sign the documents, which they claim did not accurately reflect the testimony they provided.

Front Line Defenders expresses concern at the continued detention of Bui Thi Minh Hang, particularly in light of her poor health following a six week hunger strike. Front Line Defenders believes that the detention and charges are solely related to her human rights work, particularly concerning land rights.