In a striking example of the ongoing suppression of free speech in Vietnam, journalist Truong Huy San has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for his critical remarks on social media directed at the government.
Vietnamese Journalist Sentenced to Prison for Criticizing Government on Social Media
Vietnamese Journalist Sentenced to Prison for Criticizing Government on Social Media
Truong Huy San faces 2.5 years behind bars for Facebook posts deemed detrimental to state interests.
In Ho Chi Minh City, February 28, 2025 — Prominent Vietnamese journalist Truong Huy San, known by his pen name Huy Duc, has received a prison sentence of two and a half years for “abusing democratic freedoms.” His conviction stems from a series of 13 Facebook posts made between 2015 and 2024 that criticized government actions and policies, leading authorities to label them as harmful to state interests. San was arrested in June and faced trial without his family present.
Following his arrest, human rights advocates and journalism communities closely scrutinized the case, highlighting the stark contrast between Vietnam's aspirations to be perceived as progressive and its regular clampdowns on dissent. One particular post, expressing concern over aggressive policing, stated, “A COUNTRY CANNOT DEVELOP BASED ON FEAR.” At the time of his arrest, San had amassed approximately 370,000 followers on Facebook.
Shawn Crispin from the Committee to Protect Journalists underscored that San's conviction illustrates the dangers faced by journalists in Vietnam, emphasizing that the state's treatment of independent news as a criminal act poses significant risks to freedom of expression.
Following his arrest, human rights advocates and journalism communities closely scrutinized the case, highlighting the stark contrast between Vietnam's aspirations to be perceived as progressive and its regular clampdowns on dissent. One particular post, expressing concern over aggressive policing, stated, “A COUNTRY CANNOT DEVELOP BASED ON FEAR.” At the time of his arrest, San had amassed approximately 370,000 followers on Facebook.
Shawn Crispin from the Committee to Protect Journalists underscored that San's conviction illustrates the dangers faced by journalists in Vietnam, emphasizing that the state's treatment of independent news as a criminal act poses significant risks to freedom of expression.
