Y Quynh Bđăp is a Vietnamese activist, currently being held as a political prisoner in Thailand. 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. He is a Christian, and is a co-founder of co-founder of Montagnards Stand for Justice, an organization that supports freedom of religion.
He has lived in Thailand since 2018 and has been recognized as a refugee by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
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. On 11 June 2024, Y was arrested by immigration police in Bangkok. He has been held at Bangkok Remand Prison. In October 2024, Y's extradition to Vietnam was approved by the Criminal Court in Bangkok. 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.
References
- ^ "Thai Court Grants Request for Extradition of Montagnard Activist to Vietnam". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- "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.
- ^ "Vietnamese dissident's arrest raises alarm". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ "Court approves extradition of Vietnamese activist". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- "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.
- "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.
- "Rights groups urge Thailand to release Vietnamese activist, saying he faces torture if extradited". AP News. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- "US lawmakers back Vietnamese activist held in Thailand". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2024-10-20.