Notable Religious Developments in October 2025 * Authorities Repeatedly Obstruct Worship Activities of the World Mission Society Church of God Believers.
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On Oct. 1, 2025, authorities in Lai Châu Province blocked five believers of the World Mission Society Church of God from carrying out religious activities.
The World Mission Society Church of God is a South Korea–based Christian movement founded in 1964 that teaches distinctive doctrines, including belief in God the Mother alongside God the Father. It has expanded globally but is often criticized by governments and mainstream Christian denominations as a controversial or non-traditional religious group due to its teachings and recruitment practices.
According to the Vietnamese authorities, this group used Zoom to broadcast religious content, including Bible readings, hymns, and worship services.
Authorities also confiscated two computers, six mobile phones, five memory cards, one USB drive, six Bibles, 22 white cloths, and various documents related to the Church’s religious activities. The white cloths symbolize purity in this church’s beliefs.
By Oct. 7, 2025, authorities in Phú Thọ Province again prevented six believers of the World Mission Society Church of God from practicing their faith in Phú Khê Commune.
Similarly, authorities seized one Bible, three white cloths, one small pulpit, seven envelopes containing about 300,000 đồng ($11.40), and several electronic devices used to support religious activities.
To this day, the World Mission Society Church of God has not been granted official recognition by the Vietnamese government and is frequently accused of being a “heretical cult” that exploits religion to spread superstition, recruit followers, divide families, and seek personal gain.
On Oct. 8, 2025, authorities in Đắk Lắk Province arrested Y Nuen Ayun, a member of the Evangelical Church of Christ in the Central Highlands, on charges of “undermining the national unity policy” under Article 116 of Việt Nam’s Penal Code.
The Evangelical Church of Christ in the Central Highlands is an independent Protestant group followed primarily by ethnic minority communities in Việt Nam’s Central Highlands. It is not recognized by the government and is frequently accused by authorities of political or separatist motives, while rights organizations describe it as a grassroots religious movement seeking freedom to worship.
According to the authorities, Y Nuen Ayun joined the Evangelical Church of Christ in the Central Highlands in 2019 and was elected head of its executive board in 2021.
Authorities allege that during his involvement, he engaged in multiple unlawful activities, including providing false information about religious practices in the Central Highlands; organizing illegal online religious gatherings; propagating and recruiting ethnic minorities to participate in anti-state activities; maintaining connections with the exiled groups that are affiliated with The United Front for the Liberation of Oppressed Races (Fulro); and creating divisions between local communities and the government.
Authorities also stated that during a search, they confiscated various items and documents allegedly linked to his criminal acts.
Prior to this, Y Nuen Ayun had been repeatedly warned by local authorities, but according to investigators, he allegedly continued to violate the law.
Most recently, in May 2025, Đắk Lắk authorities sentenced Y Pŏ Mlô to seven years and six months in prison, also under Article 116 for “undermining the national unity policy.”
Since the attack on the police headquarters in Đắk Lắk, the government has increasingly prosecuted independent evangelical believers under a range of criminal charges—most notably the charge of undermining the national unity policy under Article 116 of the Penal Code.
Luật Khoa Magazine reporters observed that most believers arrested in recent months were exercising their freedom of expression, including advocacy for religious freedom. Because of this, authorities often claim they are using religion as a cover for political activities deemed harmful to security, rather than engaging in purely religious practice.
Human rights organizations urged the Vietnamese government to clearly distinguish between normal religious activities and those that carry political intent or security risks, to prevent misuse of this provision that infringes upon the rights to freedom of religion and expression.
On Oct. 17, 2025, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and the Khmer Kampuchea-Krom Federation (KKF) voiced concern over Việt Nam’s re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
It is reported that Việt Nam secured 180 votes—the highest among Asia–Pacific countries.
According to UNPO and KKF, a UN statement highlighted 17 specific cases of Khmer-Krom monks and community activists who have been arrested, prosecuted, or convicted since 2023 for activities such as sharing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or simply discussing freedom of religion on social media.
Both organizations further accused the Vietnamese government of misusing Articles 331 and 380 of the Penal Code to punish peaceful activists, which they say violates Việt Nam’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
In addition, UNPO called on the international community to monitor and pressure Việt Nam to fulfill its responsibility to protect the human rights of the Khmer-Krom people and to recognize their indigenous rights.
However, the Vietnamese government maintains that “Indigenous Peoples’ Rights” do not exist in the country because such a concept does not align with Việt Nam’s historical context.
To this day, some Khmer individuals in Việt Nam and Cambodia continue to protest to reclaim land and demand recognition of indigenous rights. For this reason, the Vietnamese government has implemented strict policies toward the Khmer community.
On Oct. 9, 2025, an article published by International Christian Concern (ICC) reported that authorities in the Central Highlands had summoned at least six Montagnard believers affiliated with independent evangelical groups.
It is noted that among the six believers, at least four are women—an unusual development, as authorities have historically targeted male believers.
It remains unclear why the authorities summoned these individuals. According to ICC, local officials are believed to have applied pressure through measures such as restricting worship activities, harassment, and intimidation to coerce believers into joining state-recognized evangelical organizations.
Furthermore, ICC reported that authorities also threatened to detain the believers if they organized Christmas services or attended religious gatherings of independent evangelical groups.
From August to September 2025, authorities in Đắk Lắk Province repeatedly ordered independent evangelical groups to disband and join the Evangelical Church of Vietnam, a government-recognized organization.
These actions indicate that Việt Nam permits religious practice only within officially recognized religions, while independent evangelical groups continue to face constant monitoring and obstruction.
A coalition of six non-governmental organizations—including Big Ocean Women, Coptic Solidarity, Fundación para la Mejora de la Vida, la Cultura y la Sociedad, Jubilee Campaign, Tumuku Development and Cultural Union, and the Universal Peace Federation—together with 14 other groups, submitted a complaint to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) regarding gender-based violence linked to religious repression against women from minority faith communities.
According to the coalition, governments in countries such as Iraq, Pakistan, India, Nicaragua, and Việt Nam have abducted and harassed female believers, ranging from coercing them to abandon or change their religion to imposing institutionalized discrimination.
Regarding Việt Nam, the coalition further warned that women from minority religious communities—such as Montagnard and H’Mông believers affiliated with independent evangelical groups—are frequently subjected to state harassment, including denial of civil documents (such as birth certificates or marriage registrations), forced eviction, cuts to electricity and water, and the arrest of husbands, all with the intent of pressuring them to convert.
The coalition also called on the United Nations and the international community to strengthen protections for women in minority communities by recognizing freedom of religion as a women’s right; improving international monitoring and documenting religious violations within gender-equality frameworks; ensuring equal access to justice for victims; and reforming religious laws to prevent forced renunciation of faith, coerced conversion, forced marriage, and religion-related violence.
The CSW70 conference is expected to take place in March 2026, where member states will commit to concrete actions to safeguard religious freedom and gender equality.
In 2015, the journal Hérodote published “Géopolitique des religions au Việt Nam. Les voies multipolaires d’une société civile confessionnelle”
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