Government strips HRD of citizenship

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print
Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print

June 12, 2017

Pham Minh Hoang deprived of Vietnamese citizenship, faces deportation

On 10 June 2017, French-Vietnamese human rights defender, Pham Minh Hoang, received a copy of a stamped letter from President Tran Dai Quang confirming the “removal of [his] Vietnamese citizenship”. According to the letter dated 17 May 2017, the decision was based on article 88 of the Criminal Code, which criminalises propaganda against the state, and article 91, which outlaws moving abroad with a view to opposing the government. The revocation of Pham Minh Hoang’s citizenship renders his status illegal in Vietnam and he is now at risk of deportation.

On 10 June 2017, Pham Minh Hoang was notified through an order signed into effect by President Tran Dai Quang that his citizenship had been revoked. Since he had dual French-Vietnamese citizenship, this should lead to his eviction from Vietnam. Pham Minh Hoang plans to appeal the decision and declared he had to stay in Vietnam to care for his disabled older brother and his wife’s elderly mother.

Front Line Defenders expresses concern at this recent act of harassment against Pham Minh Hoang, which it believes to be directly related to his peaceful and legitimate work in the defence of human rights in Vietnam.

Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Vietnam to:

1. Immediately reverse their decision to revoke Pham Minh Hoang’s Vietnamese citizenship;

2. Cease targeting all human rights defenders in Vietnam and guarantee in all circumstances that they are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

PDF - 590.5 kb
Download the urgent appeal (pdf)

About Pham Minh Hoang

Pham Minh Hoang is a human rights defender, university professor, blogger and a member of the pro-democracy organization, Viet Tan. Under the pen name, Phan Kien Quoc, Pham Minh Hoang wrote dozens of commentaries on issues such as human rights, the environment, and corruption. In 2011, he was sentenced to three years imprisonment under Article 79 of the Criminal Code, on false charges of attempting to overthrow the government, but was released after 17 months and ordered to serve three years’ house arrest. Since his release in 2012, Hoang has conducted trainings for youth regarding human rights and Vietnamese law.

Source: FrontLine Defenders

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp
Share on email
Share on print

LATEST ARTICLES

Capitol Hill Briefing to Mark 50 Years of Paracel Islands Under Chinese Occupation

Vietnamese pro-democracy organization, Viet Tan, in collaboration with bipartisan Members of Congress will be hosting a briefing marking 50 years of China’s invasion and occupation of Vietnam’s Paracel Islands.  The event will be on Thursday, January 18, 2024 from 3:00-4:30 P.M. in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2060.