Amnesty International has urgently called for the release of Can Thị Theu, a Vietnamese land rights activist currently imprisoned under harsh conditions that are reportedly endangering her health. In a heartfelt plea directed towards Vietnam's President, the organization emphasized the critical need for immediate medical intervention and adequate healthcare to ensure Theu's survival.

Can Thị Theu, a stalwart advocate for the rights of farmers against land seizures, has been a vocal opponent of governmental overreach in property disputes. Her activism, particularly her efforts to document and publicize instances of land grabbing and the subsequent civil rights violations, has not gone unnoticed. Theu's work led to her arrest and the subsequent arrest of her sons in June 2020, under charges of opposing the state. Following a trial in May 2021, she received an eight-year prison sentence.

While in detention, Theu's health has rapidly deteriorated, a situation exacerbated by inadequate living conditions in the prison. Reports from Amnesty International detail restricted access to essential resources like food and water, alongside a lack of necessary medical care. Recently, Theu has suffered from severe eating disorders and persistent groin pain, yet her pleas for help have been met with limited medical attention and denial of access to her medical records. Conditions of her confinement have included an eye infection caused by poor ventilation and extreme heat, raising serious concerns about potential torture and ill treatment.

Amnesty International has highlighted these conditions as not only inhumane but as a blatant disregard for the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. The group's urgent calls for Theu's release underscore her status as a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for her peaceful exercise of free expression.

This case arrives amid broader critiques of Vietnam's treatment of political dissidents and human rights defenders. Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned the Vietnamese government's ongoing crackdown, urging global intervention to ensure the safety and release of such activists.

The plight of Can Thị Theu is a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights worldwide, particularly in regions where such freedoms are met with resistance and repression. Amnesty International continues to advocate fiercely for her immediate and unconditional release, hoping to draw international attention to her case and the broader human rights context in Vietnam.