Amnesty International expressed concern Wednesday for the health of imprisoned Vietnamese activist Can Thị Theu, in a letter addressed to the country’s president. The organization called for the immediate release of the human rights defender and stressed that without rapid access to adequate healthcare, her life could be at risk.
Amnesty International noted that Can Thị Theu has been subjected to ill treatment and inadequate living conditions in prison since her incarceration in 2020. These conditions include restricted access to food and water as well as insufficient health services. Earlier this month, Theu informed her family that she was experiencing severe eating disorders and persistent pain in her groin. As her health deteriorated, she received some medical treatment; however, authorities denied her access to her own medical records. The rights organization also said that Theu endured ill treatment and torture during pre-trial detention. She suffered from an eye infection because she was placed in a cell that lacked proper ventilation and sufficient water during extreme heat.
Can Thị Theu is a Vietnamese human rights defender and a prominent figure of the land rights movement. She is known for documenting land grabbings and human rights violations, as well as advocating that local authorities return seized land to farmers and provide equitable compensation. Theu and her family have been subjected to harassment and surveillance by authorities due to their activism. However, the situation escalated in January 2020, when a police raid on her village resulted in multiple deaths and arrests. Theu documented the raid via social media. In June, authorities arrested Theu and her sons, charging them under Article 117 of the Criminal Code for “making, storing, or spreading information, materials, or items for the purpose of opposing the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.” In May 2021, the court sentenced Theu to eight years in prison.
Consequently, Amnesty International warned that without providing medical care and allowing visits from relatives, Theu’s well-being is threatened. The group highlighted that she is a prisoner of conscience, arrested solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression. The rights organization called for her immediate and unconditional release, urging authorities to comply with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners while she remains in prison.
Vietnam has previously faced criticism for its crackdown against human rights defenders and political activists. Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned in August that Can Thị Thêu did not receive adequate medical assistance in prison, although she suffered from serious medical issues. One month earlier, the same group urged UN member states to pressure Vietnam to implement concrete changes to its approach to domestic dissent and to end its crackdown on fundamental human rights.
