A Vietnamese pastor has been sentenced to seven years and six months in prison, followed by four years of probation, after being accused of “undermining the national unity policy”.
Pastor B’Kun leads a small, unregistered house church serving tribal believers and has faced increasing pressure from authorities over his religious activities.
He was arrested in October 2025 after allegedly speaking against the government and advocating for religious freedom. Authorities had previously publicly denounced him.
At the time of his arrest, B’Kun said that he and members of his church wanted only to worship freely and did not wish to become involved in local political affairs. He also said officials appeared unhappy that church members had learned about human rights and wanted to bring his congregation under the country’s largest denomination, which he believed would make it easier for authorities to monitor them.
While B’Kun waited for his trial, other Christians in his community were also arrested because of their faith. Some believers have reportedly been subjected to severe violence, including beatings that resulted in death.
Pastor Nhan*, a local partner of Open Doors, said there had been little information about B’Kun during his detention.
“During Pastor B’Kun’s detention, we didn’t receive any information about him and the penalty he might face. We could only pray for him and his family,” Nhan said.
B’Kun’s trial eventually took place last month, resulting in the lengthy prison sentence.
The case has increased concerns among Christians in Vietnam, particularly over the treatment of ethnic minority believers involved in religious activities in the Central Highlands.
Christian communities and their advocates have questioned whether there is sufficient evidence to support such serious accusations. They have also expressed concern about the potential consequences for Christians if authorities do not clearly distinguish between legitimate religious activity and actions considered threats to national security.
Pastor Nhan said the uncertainty could leave ethnic and religious minority communities increasingly vulnerable to what they regard as unjust treatment.
Despite the sentence, house churches in the region are encouraging believers to respond peacefully and continue praying.
“We pray that truth, justice and fairness will prevail in all matters,” Nhan said.
*Name changed for security reasons.
Reported by Open Doors; republished for this publication.
