11:17 AM EDT, 04/11/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Apple ( AAPL ) was asked by a group of more than 60 activist groups to oppose the jailing of climate experts in Vietnam, one of the tech giant's major manufacturing hubs.

"Since Vietnam is now Apple's ( AAPL ) most important production hub outside of China and you have committed to human rights and

'equity and justice in climate solutions,' we believe you have a responsibility to weigh in on the systematic persecution and imprisonment of climate leaders in the country," the activists wrote in a letter to the company's board and management.

"Indeed, by not making a public statement on this matter, you risk violating your own environmental and human rights policies and delegitimizing Apple's ( AAPL ) positive work in these areas," the letter said.

The letter mentioned the arrest in October last year of Ngo Thi To Nhien, former executive director of the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition, which the activists said suggested an effort to "criminalize access to information about Vietnam's clean energy transition."

Apple ( AAPL ) didn't immediately respond to a request for comment by MT Newswires.

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