Y Quynh Bđăp

Y Quynh Bđăp is a Vietnamese activist, currently being held as a political prisoner in Thailand.[1][2] Y is a member of the Ede ethnic group from Đắk Lắk province, one of the Montagnard indigenous peoples native to Vietnam's Central Highlands.[3] He is a Christian, and is a co-founder of co-founder of Montagnards Stand for Justice, an organization that supports freedom of religion.[4]

He has lived in Thailand since 2018 and has been recognized as a refugee by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.[1]

2024 arrest

In January 2024, the Vietnamese government convicted Y in absentia of terrorism charges in connection to the 2023 Đắk Lắk attacks, sentencing him to 10 years in prison.[5][4] On 11 June 2024, Y was arrested by immigration police in Bangkok.[6] He has been held at Bangkok Remand Prison. In October 2024, Y's extradition to Vietnam was approved by the Criminal Court in Bangkok.[1] The Court's decision was criticized by Thailand's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Human Rights Watch (HRW), which say Y faces torture if extradited.[3][7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Thai Court Grants Request for Extradition of Montagnard Activist to Vietnam". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  2. ^ "Quốc tế kêu gọi bảo vệ Y Quynh Bđăp sau tuyên bố mới của Việt Nam". BBC News Tiếng Việt (in Vietnamese). 2024-10-19. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  3. ^ a b "Vietnamese dissident's arrest raises alarm". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  4. ^ a b "Court approves extradition of Vietnamese activist". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  5. ^ "Rights groups urge Thailand not to extradite Vietnamese activist, saying he's at risk if sent home". AP News. 2024-06-13. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  6. ^ "Vụ Y Quynh Bđăp: 'Phép thử' cho ông Tô Lâm và tân thủ tướng Thái Lan?". BBC News Tiếng Việt (in Vietnamese). 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  7. ^ "Rights groups urge Thailand to release Vietnamese activist, saying he faces torture if extradited". AP News. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
  8. ^ "US lawmakers back Vietnamese activist held in Thailand". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-20.