In this letter, MP Judy Sgro calls on Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to address serious humanitarian and legal concerns regarding Le Dinh Luong’s detention, urging immediate medical access, transparent review of his conditions, and consideration of clemency in line with Vietnam’s international obligations.
December 2, 2025
H.E. Pham Minh Chinh
Prime Minister
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Re: Urgent Request for Immediate Humanitarian and Legal Review in the Case of Mr. Le Dinh Luong
Dear Prime Minister Pham Van Chinh:
I write to you in my capacity as a Member of the Parliament of Canada to express serious and ongoing concern regarding the detention and treatment of Mr. Le Dinh Luong, who was sentenced in 2018 under Article 79 of Vietnam’s Penal Code. His case continues to draw significant attention within Canada and among international partners.
Canada and Vietnam have developed a valuable and strategic relationship, strengthened in recent years through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the ASEAN–Canada Strategic Partnership, and expanding bilateral trade, education, and security cooperation. These frameworks rely on shared commitments to transparency, the rule of law, and respect for human rights, principles that both our nations have repeatedly affirmed.
It is in the context of this meaningful partnership that I must emphasize, with firmness and urgency, the growing concerns surrounding Mr. Luong’s health, access to due process, and conditions of confinement. Reports brought to my attention describe inadequate medical care, limits placed on family contact, and restricted access to legal representation. Such treatment raises serious questions about compliance with Vietnam’s obligations under international law.
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a State Party to several key international instruments, including:
- The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
- The Convention Against Torture (CAT)
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
These frameworks obligate the Government of Vietnam to ensure humane treatment of detainees, uphold the right to a fair and transparent legal process, and prevent any degrading or coercive treatment.
Given the seriousness of these concerns, I respectfully but unequivocally request that your government:
- Ensure immediate and unhindered access for Mr. Luong to qualified medical professionals, his family members, and legal counsel;
- Conduct a thorough and transparent review of his detention conditions, with specific reference to Vietnam’s obligations under the ICCPR and its own domestic laws;
- Initiate a humanitarian and legal reassessment of his sentence, including consideration of early release or clemency in light of his health and international law
I also wish to underscore that Vietnam is scheduled to assume the Chairmanship of the CPTPP Commission in 2026, a position that brings with it heightened global visibility and expectations regarding adherence to the rule of law, human rights protections, and good governance. Taking decisive, transparent, and compassionate action in Mr. Luong’s case would send a strong and positive signal to Canada and to the broader international community about Vietnam’s commitment to these shared principles as it prepares to take on this important leadership role.
I appreciate your government’s attention to this urgent matter and trust that constructive action will be taken without delay.
Sincerely,
Judy A. Sgro
Member of Parliament
House of Commons, Canada
