Vietnam’s National Assembly has decided to end the death penalty for eight serious crimes, including embezzlement, bribery, counterfeit medicine trading, drug transport, espionage, sabotage, and attempts to overthrow the government. From July’2025, people convicted of these crimes will get life imprisonment instead of death. Those already sentenced to death for these crimes before July 1 will have their sentences changed to life in prison. However, the death penalty will still apply to 10 other crimes like murder, treason, terrorism, and child sexual abuse. There was debate about removing the death penalty for drug trafficking because many believe drug crimes cause great harm. Vietnam stopped using firing squads in 2011 and now uses lethal injections for executions. The country keeps data about the death penalty secret, so the number of people on death row is unknown.
Praise GOD for the positive move of the government towards ending the death penalty in Vietnam. Pray for the complete eradication of such practices in the country (The Holy Bible, Psalm 34:14).
Pray for the availability of Christian resources for the people in prisons in Vietnam, for HE is not far from each one of us. Pray for the imprisoned to be receptive to the Gospel of Christ (The Holy Bible, Acts 17:27).
News Source: Al Jazeera
Image Source: Canva
