Vietnam cuts a deal

Persecution | Ahead of its first state visit to the United States in 30 years, the former enemy agrees to enforce a new religious-freedom law | Priya Abraham

Le Thi Hong Lien spent almost a year in prison for being a Mennonite. Reportedly beaten until her jaw broke and driven into mental illness, she quickly became a poster child for persecuted Christians in Vietnam. Under U.S. pressure, Vietnamese authorities released her on April 28, but re-arrested her three days later for attending a Bible study.

Ms. Lien's case is symbolic of Vietnam's uncertain promises to expand religious freedom. But that did not keep the United States, after months of talks, from announcing May 5 that it had reached an agreement with Vietnam based on its pledges to reform.

Last September the United States named Vietnam one of the world's worst violators of religious freedom—one of eight "countries of particular concern." This month's agreement forestalls more punitive measures such as U.S. sanctions.