Thich Thien Phuc

Cases

Relevant SG report

From Country

Country Geolocation

Latitude: 14.058324

Longitude: 108.277199

From Region

UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report

Individual's/organization's activity: members of independent religious communities and human rights defenders, who sought to participate, or participated, in the 2019 annual international conference in Bangkok on freedom of religion or belief in Southeast Asia

Type of rights defended

Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?: No

Reported trigger of reprisal: sought to participate, or participated, in the 2019 annual international conference in Bangkok on freedom of religion or belief in Southeast Asia. The conference included interaction with and training by OHCHR

Engagement with UN body

Type of attempted engagement

Reprisal information: On 6 November 2019, upon their return to Da Nang International Airport, Mr. Huynh Ngoc Truong, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai Phuong, Ms. Nguyen Pham Ai Thuy, Ms. Ngo Thi Lien and Mr. Thich Thien Phuc were reportedly stopped by security officers and separately subjected to intense interrogation about their participation in the conference, including what the conference was about, who the organizers and participants were, how they funded their travel, and what they had shared or done at the conference

Types of reprisals suffered

Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?: No

Government response content: Regarding the individuals attending the 2019 annual international conference in Bangkok on freedom of religion or belief in Southeast Asia, the Government stated that relevant authorities do not “intimidate” or “harass” individuals because they attend an international workshop or conference. It further stated that information indicating that “members of independent religious communities and human rights defenders” faced acts of intimidation and reprisals, in the forms of threats, harassment, travel restrictions, surveillance, and acts of violence before and after attending the 2019 annual international conference in Bangkok on freedom of religion or belief, is untrue.

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?: No

Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?: No

Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?: No