Nguyen Van Dai | Vietnam
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Nguyen Van Dai, a Protestant Church leader and lawyer, was arrested at his home in Hanoi on the morning of December 6, 2015.
According to his wife, he was on his way to meet representatives of the EU to discuss human rights issues in his home country of Vietnam. Dai was taken back to his house by plainclothes police officers, where he was confronted by two dozen other police officers. A search warrant was produced and signed by Dai and his wife, who noted the charges to which Dai did not agree. Police confiscated two laptops, a desktop computer and several USB sticks
He has been charged with ‘spreading propaganda against the state’ (article 88) and could face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Nguyen Van Dai was previously tried in May 2008 for “conducting propaganda against the state”, “conspiring with terrorists, in their efforts to promote human rights efforts, including religious rights and democracy”, plus a wide range of other crimes, and sentenced to five years in prison (later reduced to four) and forced to close his offices. He was released to four years of house arrest on March 9 2011, and barred from practicing law. Dai concluded his house arrest in March 2015, but still experienced regular police harassment, physical attacks and surveillance. The week before the December 2015 arrest, Dai was beaten with wooden clubs, had his possessions taken and was left stranded on a beach after attending a human rights conference in Nghe An Province.
Prison address:
Mr Nguyen Van Dai
Trai Tam gia B14
Xa Thanh Liet
Huyen Thanh Tri
Hanoi
Vietnam
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New profile: Nguyen Van Dai, in Vietnam
Nguyen Van Dai, a Protestant Church leader and lawyer, was arrested at his home in Hanoi on the morning of December 6, 2015. According to his wife, he was on his way to meet representatives of the EU to discuss human rights issues in his home country of Vietnam. Dai was taken back to his house […]
Time in prison:
Family situation
Nguyen is married
Charged with:
“spreading propaganda against the state.”
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Write to the Vietnamese Embassy in NZ about this case
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Level 21 Grand Plimmer Tower, 2-6 Gilmer Terrace, Wellington
Website: www.vietnamembassy-newzealand.org
Email: embassyvn@paradise.net.nz