Thich Dong Long
Thích Đồng Long
Detainment Type: At risk
Other Names: Thích Đồng Long
Date of Birth:
Gender: M
Religion: Buddhist
Ethnicity: Kinh
Occupation: Religious leader
Activist Focus:
- Religious freedom
Organizational/Political Party Affiliation:
Details
Background
Thich Dong Long is a member of the United Buddhist Church of Vietnam, which is not recognized by authorities. As such, he has suffered harassment at his pagoda at Lien Tri 2, which is in Cu Chi district, including pressure to join the state-approved Buddhist sangha.
Profile photo source: Radio Free Asia Vietnamese
Family SituationTran Thi Ruoi, the mother of Thich Dong Long, a Buddhist monk, received an invitation from the People’s Committee of Trung Lap Ha Commune, to work on “some related issues.” The reason for this invitation was said to be because of Thich Dong Long’s religious activities. The authorities accused Thich Dong Long of “gathering the people” to celebrate Vesak (or Buddha’s Birthday), which Thich Dong Long said was not true, and that he practiced this rite alone. Thich Dong Long participated in the mass demonstration protesting against the bills on Special Economic Zones and Cybersecurity in June 2018. Since he refuses to be under the control of the authorities, Long is often harassed and surveilled by three cameras.
May 22, 2019: detained while protesting violations of religious freedom
At 2:30 pm on May 22, 2019, the Public Security of Ho Chi Minh City arrested Thich Dong Long, a Buddhist monk, and took him away when he was alone protesting against Vietnamese violations of religious freedom and human rights in front of the Consulate General of the United States. As of May 23, authorities still held Long at the police station of Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, according to Facebooker Nguyen Khanh. After almost two days in detention, he was released.
Profile last updated: 2024-06-13 20:34:05