Court Jails Journalist For Criticising Govt On Facebook
A Vietnamese court has sentenced prominent journalist Huy Duc to 30 months in prison over Facebook posts deemed critical of the government, state media reported on Thursday.
The court in Hanoi convicted the 63-year-old under the country’s controversial laws on “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state.”
The charges stemmed from 13 articles he published on his Facebook page, which authorities claimed had a “negative impact on social order and safety.”
Huy Duc, a former state media journalist turned independent blogger, has been an outspoken critic of Vietnam’s communist leadership, tackling issues such as corruption, media control, and the country’s relationship with China.
Before his arrest in June last year, he had taken aim at To Lam, Vietnam’s most powerful leader, as well as former party chief Nguyen Phu Trong.
During the trial, which lasted only a few hours, Huy Duc admitted that some of his content violated state interests and expressed regret.
However, rights activists argue that his prosecution is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in the one-party state.
Vietnam has no free press and ranks among the world’s top jailers of journalists. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the verdict, stating that the heavy sentence demonstrated the regime’s determination to silence independent voices.
“This ruling shows the government’s contempt for press freedom and its relentless pursuit of journalists who do not align with state propaganda,” RSF advocacy manager Aleksandra Bielakowska told AFP.
Huy Duc, whose real name is Truong Huy San, previously worked for some of Vietnam’s most influential newspapers before being dismissed in 2009 for criticising the former Soviet Union.
He later gained prominence through his widely read blog and Facebook page, where he shared analysis on political and social issues.
The journalist, also a former army officer, spent a year at Harvard University on a Nieman Fellowship in 2012.
During his time abroad, he published The Winning Side, a book that offered a critical account of Vietnam after the war with the United States.
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His imprisonment follows a pattern of escalating repression in Vietnam. Just months earlier, blogger Duong Van Thai was jailed for 12 years for anti-state activities, while another former lawyer received a three-year sentence in January over Facebook posts.
In December, the Vietnamese government enacted Decree 147, a new regulation requiring social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to verify user identities and provide data to authorities.
Critics warn that the law further tightens state control over online discourse, leaving little room for free expression in an already restrictive media environment.
Human rights groups have repeatedly urged Vietnam to respect press freedom and release detained journalists.
However, with 38 reporters currently behind bars, according to RSF, the government appears determined to maintain its grip on public discourse.
Huy Duc’s arrest and sentencing have once again raised concerns over Vietnam’s intolerance of dissent. In one of his final Facebook posts before his arrest, he wrote: “No country can develop sustainably based on fear.”
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