Jailed Vietnamese pastor kept in solitary confinement and fed with contaminated food

A Vietnamese Lutheran pastor, who was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for fighting for religious freedom, was recently sent to another prison facility where he is kept in solitary confinement.

Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh, who was previously held in Phuoc Prison in Binh Duong, has been transferred to Xuan Loc Prison in Dong Nai province, UCA news reported. His wife, Tran Thi Hong, was informed by the prison officials that he was relocated and that he was not allowed to call his family because he would not admit to his crimes.

Chinh, 50, was charged in 2011 with undermining national solidarity under Article 87 of the Vietnam penal code. Since his incarceration, he has been moved three times and was not allowed to contact his family, even when his mother died.

Hong said that she was eventually allowed to see Chinh through a glass window, and she was able to talk to him for 45 minutes.

"He is kept in a cell that is away from others, and given food through a small window two times a day," she told UCA news.

"Prison officers have taken away all his belongings including a copy of the Bible. They also didn't allow him to get food, medicine and clothes from me," she added.

Chinh and other religious prisoners went on a hunger strike in August to demand equal treatment with other prisoners and be allowed to call their families for five minutes a month. The pastor was accused of leading the participants of the strike.

The religious prisoners were reportedly fed with contaminated food. According to a report from Vietnam Human Rights Defenders, tiny glass particles and copper wire were mixed with the food. The water reportedly had a strange smell, which suggested that it may be intentionally contaminated with toxic chemical substances.

Moreover, prison officials allegedly encourage other prisoners to beat the prisoners of conscience who object to inhumane treatment in the facility.

Hong said that the other prisoners' demands were met, but Chinh was transferred to Xuan Loc as punishment.

"He is in poor health, he suffers high blood pressure and has severe sinusitis," she said, adding, "I fear that he is too weak to complete the rest of his sentence."

Vietnam is currently ranked on the Open Doors World Watch List as the 20th most difficult place to live in as a Christian. The 14th National Assembly recently passed the nation's first Law on Belief and Religion to protect religious freedom, but there are concerns that the legislation still allows excessive state interference in the affairs of religious organizations.