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February 27, 2025 – Vietnam –
A court in Hanoi sentenced prominent Vietnamese journalist and author Truong Huy San, known by his pen name Huy Duc, to 30 months in prison for Facebook posts critical of the government. The court found him guilty of “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state” under Article 331 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.
The conviction was based on 13 Facebook posts published in June 2024, which the court claimed had a “negative impact on social order and safety” due to their wide reach and engagement. These posts included commentary on political leadership and the role of public security forces in Vietnamese politics.
Huy Duc, 63, is a former senior army lieutenant who transitioned to journalism, working for state-run newspapers before establishing a popular blog and Facebook presence. He is also the author of “The Winning Side,” a book on postwar Vietnam that is banned in the country. In 2012, he was awarded a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University.
His arrest in June 2024 followed Facebook posts that criticized newly elected President To Lam and Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The swift trial and sentencing have drawn international condemnation. Organizations like Reporters Without Borders, PEN America, and the Committee to Protect Journalists have denounced the verdict, calling for his immediate release and highlighting concerns over press freedom in Vietnam.
Vietnam’s government maintains strict control over the media and has increasingly targeted journalists and bloggers under laws criminalizing dissent. The sentencing of Huy Duc underscores the challenges faced by independent voices in the country and raises alarms about the state of freedom of expression.
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