Vietnam sentences Montagnard pastor to seven years in prison

A Montagnard Protestant pastor, Y Nuen Ayun, has been sentenced to seven and a half years in prison by the People’s Court of Đắk Lắk Province in Vietnam. Following his prison term, he will serve four years of probationary supervision.

Prosecutors alleged that Ayun was involved in organizing and leading the unregistered ‘Church of Christ Central Highlands’ and maintaining contact with an individual identified as A Ga, who resides overseas. Authorities claim A Ga supports separatist movements and continues to finance religious activities in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. The indictment stated that Ayun helped organize religious gatherings, recruited participants, and received approximately 7.7 million Vietnamese dong to support the organization.

Ayun was charged under Article 116 of Vietnam’s Criminal Code for ‘undermining the national unity policy.’ Human rights advocates have criticized the ruling, stating that Vietnam continues to use such charges to target religious freedom and silence ethnic minority Christians.