According to CSW Pastor A Dao was arrested in 2016 while on his way to visit some members of his church following his return from the Southeast Asia Freedom of Religion or Belief (SEAFORB II) Conference in East Timor in August 2016. His family was not informed of his arrest and heard nothing from him for five days. In April 2017, Pastor A Dao was sentenced to five years in prison for 'illegally taking people to Thailand', a charge he denies; he has remained imprisoned ever since. Pastor A Dao's church has experienced ongoing harassment from the authorities.

In June 2020, Commissioner James Carr of the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) pledged to adopt Pastor A Dao as part of the Commission's Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project. In response to the pastor's release, Commissioner Carr said: "I hope this release is a sign that the Vietnamese government is serious about improving religious freedom conditions and will release other individuals detained for their religious freedom advocacy, including Nguyen Bac Truyen. In addition, USCIRF urges the government to take steps to ensure that local authorities respect A Dao's freedom and safety should he choose to return to his home village."

CSW continues to receive reports of severe violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) against every major religious community in Vietnam, including Buddhists, Catholics, Cao Daists, Hoa Hao Buddhists and Protestants. Violations range from harassment, intimidation and intrusive monitoring, to arrest, imprisonment, torture and extra-judicial killing, and are often most severe for individuals in remote areas who are both ethnic and religious minorities.

CSW's Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: "CSW welcomes the release of Pastor A Dao while noting that he should never have been imprisoned in the first place as he was innocent of the charges levelled against him. We call on the authorities to ensure that Pastor A Dao is able to enjoy his freedom without fear of further harassment or violations against himself, his church, or his loved ones. We also continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining prisoners of conscience in Vietnam, including Nguyen Bac Truyen and Pastor Nguyen Trung Ton. The international community must ensure that any limited positive developments do not obscure continued and serious human rights concerns in Vietnam, in particular as the EU, UK and US seek to build closer relationships with the country." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'The Passion of the Christ' Getting Theatrical Re-Release Ahead of Highly Anticipated Sequel

A Sweet Update on That Oregon Couple Who Stepped Up at the Great American State Fair

The World Lights Up for America's 250th, While the American Left Opts to Whine About It

The America 250 Celebration in DC Was One for the History Books (Videos)

Must Watch: Katharine Birbalsingh's Fiery ARC Speech-How Schools Are Destroying the Moral Core of the West (Video)

DHS Condemns Minnesota Pardon of Convicted Child Rapist

The President Rings NYSE Opening Bell from the Oval Office, While Officially Launching the Trump Accounts for Children

Venezuelan Earthquake Death Toll Soars as Country's Independence Day Arrives

July 4th Fireworks Will Be Great on America's 250th Birthday, But Your Dog Will Hate Them!

Our Favorite Patriotic Tunes, Part 2: 3 Songs Swiped from the Brits (Videos)

World Cup: Team USA Wins, Goes to the Sweet 16 Round against Belgium on Monday

3,000 Walk Boston's Freedom Trail: 'We Have A Lot to Thank God For'

Except for Democrats, a New Survey Shows Americans Still DO Have Pride in Their Country (And We Don't Mean the LGBT Kind)

Christian Student Says She Was Forced to Make an Unthinkable Graduation Choice

This Oregon Couple Went to the Great American State Fair in DC, Voluntarily Helped Man Their State's Empty Booth, and Was Awed by What They Experienced

'United Saints of America': 'Fighter' Singer Jon Kahn, and Nashville Hit-Maker Michael Farren Release Patriotic Anthem Ahead of America's 250

Famous TikTok Tarot Card Reader Finds Jesus, Deletes All Occult Content (Video)

Muslims Massacre 22 More Christians in Nigeria, Including a Pastor

Sweden Takes Girls from Christian Parents, Won't Return Them Citing Church Attendance as 'Extremism' (Video)

Energy Secretary Issues Emergency Orders to Bolster Mid-Atlantic Power Grid Amid Heat Wave Risks