A Montagnard pastor from Vietnam now living in North Carolina is calling on the U.S. government to do more to combat the ongoing persecution of the Dao Blung Hlao Church in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Authorities often increase persecution the week of Christmas in the Central Highlands, arresting Christians and warning worshippers not to celebrate the holiday outside state-sponsored churches.

“Our people are being detained. Police are forcing citizens to remain silent,” Pastor Nglol Rahlan wrote. “Authorities are coercing followers of the Dao Blung Hlao Church to attend Christmas services at state-controlled churches that worship Ho Chi Minh, which are officially recognized by the government.”

The Dao Blung Hlao Church, founded by Pastor Rahlan, is formed of Montagnard Christians who have long been persecuted in Vietnam. Rahlan shared his testimony in February at the 2025 IRF Summit in Washington, D.C. International Christian Concern (ICC) and other groups spearheaded the “legislate” breakout session, “Vanishing Freedoms in Vietnam.”

The Summit session also included remarks from U.S. Rep. Derek Tran (D-Calif.), Jean Wu of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and Hon. Grover Joseph Rees III, former United States Ambassador to East Timor. Sara Colm of the Campaign to Abolish Torture in Vietnam moderated. Two representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy also attended the session and watched the comments.

In his statement this week, Rahlan pleaded for the international community, the United States government, and President Trump to protect religious freedom in the Central Highlands. He noted that Vietnamese officials, including Communist Party leader and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, claimed that they protect religious freedom, yet their actions say otherwise.

“If Vietnam truly respects international human rights and religious freedom, then why — from December 5, 2025, until today — have arrests continued?” Rahlan said. “Our people are being detained. Police are forcing citizens to remain silent. Authorities are coercing followers of the Dao Blung Hlao Church to attend Christmas services at state-controlled churches that worship Ho Chi Minh, which are officially recognized by the government.”

The government has long targeted ethnic minorities, including Christians of Montagnard and Hmong descent, for perceived political and religious threats. State-controlled religious groups give the government complete control over Christian activities and pressure independent churches to join or risk punishment. Yet these groups must undergo a multi-year registration process and avoid any activities deemed contrary to national security and unity — a vague requirement that gives authorities freedom to restrict worship. Like China and North Korea, state-sponsored churches in Vietnam pressure members to quasi-worship government leaders ahead of Christ.

“Our people are suffering because the Vietnamese Communist government is blocking them from practicing their faith, preventing them from celebrating Christmas, and arresting followers of the Dao Blung Hlao Church,” Rhalan said.

Officials in the Central Highland region warn residents during the Christmas season not to celebrate independently of their state-controlled churches. They accuse Christians of creating disunity and spearheading efforts to create a separatist government.

“To this day, Dao Blung Hlao followers do not have religious freedom and face increasing hardship,” Rhalan said. “Vietnam claims to follow international law, yet continues these actions. Vietnam shows no fear of international law.”

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