Abdelrahman
A Vietnamese court has handed down a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence to one of the nation’s leading journalists, Truong Huy San—also recognized by his pen name, Huy Duc. This ruling, issued on Thursday, stems from charges related to “misusing democratic freedoms” due to approximately twelve Facebook posts that challenged or critiqued the government.
The journalist was taken into custody in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, in June. He faced conviction under the country’s criminal code for 13 articles he shared on his personal Facebook account from 2015 to 2024. According to state media, these posts were deemed to have “negatively affected state interests and the legal rights of various organizations and individuals.” Notably, Mr. San’s family was barred from entering the courtroom during the proceedings.
His situation has drawn significant attention from global human rights organizations and the media, serving as a lens through which observers can evaluate the evolving status of free speech in a country that is striving for a more progressive image while frequently suppressing dissent and civil society groups.
Among the posts that contributed to Mr. San’s legal troubles, one criticized oppressive policing tactics. A preserved screenshot from a deleted post highlighted a poignant message: “A COUNTRY CANNOT DEVELOP BASED ON FEAR.” At the time, his Facebook platform boasted around 370,000 followers.
Shawn Crispin, the Southeast Asia representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists, remarked that Mr. San was charged and sentenced for the act of gathering and disseminating independent news—an act that the Vietnamese authorities classify as a criminal offense.
