Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Home Affairs NguyenDuy Thang has stated that Vietnam will firmly deal with activities that violatethe law and go against public morality in the name of religion while upholdingthe freedom of religion and beliefs.

The deputy minister made the statement at the monthlygovernment’s press conference in Hanoi on May 3 in responding to reporters’question about missionary work by some groups of the World Mission SocietyChurch of God (WMSCOG) which has recently been covered on the media.

Thang said the activities of those groups ran counter topublic morality and the nation’s good traditions, and such activities arebanned under the Law on Beliefs and Religions.

According to the deputy minister, the Government Committeefor Religious Affairs has reported the issue to the Prime Minister and issuedfour guideline documents in the regard.

He said the Ministry of Public Security had directed localsecurity forces to investigate the groups’ activities in the northern provincesof Hai Phong and Thai Nguyen, and the central province of Thanh Hoa.

The Government Committee for Religious Affairs iscoordinating with the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry ofInformation and Communications to hold communications activities to help thepublic understand the real nature of the WMSCOG’s activities, thus preventing peoplefrom being induced to abandon the normal life and family to join it, he said.

Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dungaffirmed that the Party and State always respect and ensure citizens’ rights toreligious freedom, but the abuse of religion to violate the law must bestrictly punished.

He said the PM had required relevant agencies and localadministrations to investigate WMSCOG’s illegal activities and handle them inaccordance with the law.-VNA