Vietnam jails 3 Catholic activists

(May 24, 2012) An official says a court in central Vietnam has sentenced three Catholic activists to up to three and a half years in prison for distributing what they described as anti-government leaflets. Presiding Judge Vi Van Chat said that the three were convicted of ``spreading propaganda against the state'' at Thursday's half-day trial in Nghe An province. They were also ordered to serve up to 18 months under house arrest, adding that the fourth defendant was given a two-year suspended sentence. In the past, the four activists had participated in volunteer activities, including encouraging women not to have abortions, donating blood, and volunteering to help orphans and victims of natural disasters. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch has called for their immediate release. "Prosecuting these four activists shows the contempt Vietnam has for freedom of religion and expression,” Robertson had said prior to the trial.