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THICH QUANG DUC

Thích Quảng Đức, born Lâm Văn Túc, was a Vietnamese Mahayana Buddhist monk who self-immolated on 11 June 1963 in Saigon. His act of self-immolation was a protest against the persecution of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese government under President Ngô Đình Diệm, who was a Roman Catholic.

The self-immolation of Quảng Đức was widely publicized, particularly through a photograph taken by Malcolm Browne, which went viral globally and heightened awareness of the Diệm regime’s policies. Browne’s photograph earned him the World Press Photo of the Year award. U.S. President John F. Kennedy remarked on the profound impact of the image.

In response to international pressure, Diệm’s government promised reforms, but these promises were not fulfilled, which further exacerbated tensions with the Buddhist community. Subsequent protests led to ARVN Special Forces, loyal to Diệm’s brother Ngô Đình Nhu, raiding Buddhist pagodas, resulting in additional violence and the seizure of Quảng Đức’s heart. Several other monks followed Quảng Đức’s example by self-immolating.

The continued unrest and mounting international pressure played a significant role in the US-backed coup that led to the assassination of Ngô Đình Diệm on 2 November 1963.