The incident occurred after the nuns of the Sisters of St Paul in Hanoi carried banners on 8th May and demanded that the authorities halt the planned construction.
According to the Association to Protect Freedom of Religion, the nuns marched to the Hoan Kiem District People’s Committee Office and the Tran Hung Dao Ward Office but were confronted by “thugs” that insulted and beat the nuns with batons.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has received numerous reports which indicate that assailants are commonly used by police and authorities in Vietnam to intimidate, harass and assault religious communities.
Responding to the violence, CSW’s chief executive Mervyn Thomas said: “CSW condemns this attack on nuns peacefully protesting for the return of land in Vietnam and the lack of intervention by police officers present at the scene.
“We call on the Vietnamese authorities to immediately cease all forms of harassment and intimidation against this community, to accept their petition for the return of their land, and to allow them to practice their religion and conduct religious activities without restriction.”
The nuns have repeatedly requested the return of the land since authorities divided the site and sold it to other people in 1954, UCA News has reported.
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