Catholics in Vietnam welcome some easing of death penalty

On June 25, the death penalty was lifted for crimes such as trying to overthrow the government and damaging state infrastructure, among others, Fides reported, citing Vietnamese state media.

The other crimes to which the death penalty no longer attaches include making and selling fake medicine, starting wars, spying, drug trafficking, embezzlement and taking bribes.

“It is a step that gives hope,” said Fr Dominic Ngo Quang Tuyen, secretary of the Commission for Evangelisation of the Vietnamese Bishops’ Conference, in an interview with Fides.

Fr Tuyen said that “a society of solidarity offers prisoners the opportunity to return and live a dignified life”, Fides reported.

“People who have done wrong or committed a crime also deserve time to be rehabilitated and redeemed.”

From July this year, life imprisonment will be the maximum penalty for the eight crimes. Prisoners sentenced to death before July 1 will have their punishments commuted to life imprisonment, Fides reported.

However, the death penalty will remain for 10 other criminal offences under Vietnamese law, including murder, treason, terrorism and the sexual abuse of children.

The Catholic Church in Vietnam accompanies prisoners through an active prison ministry by providing material, spiritual and psychological assistance with the involvement of priests and laity. Some Church organisations also address the needs of prisoners’ families, Fides reported. 

Some Catholics have called for the complete abolition of the death penalty in Vietnam. The number of death row prisoners in Vietnam is unknown as the government considers this information a state secret, Fides said.

Internal prosecutorial reports indicate that more than 2000 people have been sentenced to death in the last decade, and more than 400 executed, Jurist News reported.

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Vietnam Catholics welcome lifting of death penalty for 8 crimes (UCA News)