Persons in custody allowed to use scriptures, express religious belief
People in temporary custody or detention are now allowed to read scriptures and express their religious beliefs, according to a decree recently issued by the Government.
Buddhist followers at Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh province (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – People in temporary custody ordetention are now allowed to read scriptures and express their religious beliefs,according to a decree recently issued by the Government.
Decree 162/2017/ND-CP specifies enforcement ofthe Law on Belief and Religion regarding the right to use scriptures and showfaith and religious belief of persons in temporary custody or detention,prisoners and those at correctional schools and compulsory educational and drugrehabilitation centres.
Accordingly, they are allowed to use legallypublished and printed scriptures to practice their faith and religion. They canalso express their faith and religious belief through words or behaviour inline with legal regulations in temporary custody houses, temporary detentioncentres, prisons, correctional schools and compulsory educational and drugrehabilitation establishments.
The use of scriptures and the expression of faithand religious belief must not affect the right to freedom of belief andreligion and the right to freedom of non-belief and religion of other people.They must also not run counter to legal regulations.
The Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry ofNational Defence and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs areresponsible for instructing scripture management and the time and location forusing scriptures and showing faith and religious belief, per the decree.
The decree also specifies articles pertaining toother issues in the Law on Belief and Religion.
The Law on Belief and Religion was approved bythe National Assembly in November 2016 and took effect on January 1, 2018.-VNA
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Buddhist followers at Bai Dinh Pagoda in Ninh Binh province (Photo: VNA) 
