Nguyen Van Ly Gao Zhisheng Asia Bibi

Location: Vietnam Arrested: July 2011 Days Imprisoned: 217 Print Fact Sheet On Feb. 19, 2007, Father Nguyen Van Ly was arrested in Hue, Vietnam for distributing material “harmful to the state.” In March, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. He has issued statements criticizing the government’s confiscation of church property, lack of seminary training and the influence of the state in church teachings and has been a powerful advocate for Christian freedom. On March 15, 2010, Father Nguyen was released on medical parole after he suffered three debilitating strokes. He spent 16 months convalescing before the government demanded he return to complete his sentence. Seriously ill and weak, Father Nguyen was rearrested on July 25, 2011.