Congresswoman Lofgren joined her fellow cofounders of the Congressional Dialogue on Vietnam in a letter condemning the sham "trial" of Father Ly in Vietnam. On October 19, 2001, the Vietnamese government sentenced Reverend Nguyen Van Ly to 15 years in prison on charges that he undermined the country's unity and violated a detention order. With the world's attention focused-rightly-on the fight against terror, the Vietnamese government convicted Father Ly in a two-hour trial without the presence of a defense lawyer or independent witnesses.
"I was outraged to hear about the recent conviction of Father Ly in Vietnam," said Lofgren. "This fall, by a vote of 410-1, the House passed the Vietnam Human Rights Act which required Vietnam to end its practice of religious persecution. The legislation specifically recognized the plight of Father Ly and other religious leaders who have been repressed by the Vietnamese government. The Vietnam government is obviously showing its contempt for human rights by this unjust action towards Father Ly and his followers. That is why I am helping circulate a letter to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai calling for Father Ly's release among my Congressional colleagues so they can join the rest of the international community and condemn this despicable act."