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October 10, 2025 – Vietnam –
Vietnamese authorities arrested Huynh Ngoc Tuan at his home in Buon Ho town, Dak Lak province, on October 7, 2025, accusing him of “propagandizing against the state” under Article 117 of the penal code—a provision that carries penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment.
Tuan is a well-known independent writer and social commentator who frequently criticizes the Vietnamese government via posts on his Facebook page, particularly on issues of human rights, governance, and foreign affairs. His arrest marks the latest in a long history of harassment: over the years, his home and property have been raided, his devices confiscated, his movements monitored, and he has faced travel restrictions.
His family, particularly his daughter Huynh Thuc Vy (herself a journalist), has expressed deep concern for his health. Tuan suffers from severe diabetes and requires daily insulin, raising fears for his well-being while held in detention at the Dak Lak Provincial Police Detention Center.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the move and called for Tuan’s “immediate and unconditional release,” stressing that Vietnam’s treatment of dissenting voices deepens the country’s mounting press freedom crisis. CPJ’s Southeast Asia representatives described the arrest as a “stark reminder of Vietnam’s intolerance for dissent.”
Tuan is no stranger to repression: he was previously sentenced to ten years in prison for his critical writing and activism. This recent detention is seen by rights groups as part of a broader crackdown on independent journalism and political dissent in Vietnam.
Considering the arrest, observers warn that the space for critical voices in Vietnam is shrinking further, especially as the state increasingly relies on broad national security laws to silence debate. Human rights and press freedom advocates are now rallying calls for transparency, legal safeguards, and assurances that Tuan’s medical needs will be respected if he remains in custody.
References –
https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/Vietnam-arrested-independent-journalist-Huynh-Ngoc-Tuan/
