Vietnamese Journalist Truong Huy San Sentenced to Prison Over Facebook Posts

February 18, 2025 – Vietnam – 

Vietnamese journalist and writer Truong Huy San, known as Huy Đức, was sentenced in early 2025 to 30 months in prison under Article 331 of Vietnam’s Penal Code. The court ruled that thirteen Facebook posts he published between 2015 and 2024 constituted an “abuse of democratic freedoms” that infringed on the interests of the state and the rights of organizations and individuals. His posts reportedly criticized government policies and raised sensitive social and political issues.

San was arrested in June 2024 and has remained in detention since. His trial lasted only a few hours, drawing condemnation from international human rights groups. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and PEN America denounced the verdict, calling it a blatant attempt to silence dissenting voices and a serious blow to freedom of expression in Vietnam. They demanded his immediate release, emphasizing that San’s case exemplifies the government’s harsh crackdown on independent journalism and online expression.

Vietnam has a well-documented record of restricting press freedom. The authorities regularly use vague legal provisions like Article 331, which penalizes “abuse of democratic freedoms,” to prosecute journalists, bloggers, and activists who question or criticize the government. This law is often employed to suppress peaceful speech under the guise of protecting national security or social order.

San, a former journalist and author, is recognized for his critical reporting and analysis of Vietnamese politics and society. His Facebook posts were influential in sparking public discussion on issues such as corruption, human rights, and governance. His imprisonment is seen as part of a broader effort to clamp down on social media and independent media platforms, which have become vital spaces for public debate in the tightly controlled Vietnamese media environment.

The international community, including press freedom organizations and Western governments, continues to call on Vietnam to respect freedom of expression and to end the persecution of journalists like Truong Huy San. His sentencing highlights ongoing challenges for media freedom in Vietnam amid rising government repression.

Reference – 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/28/world/asia/vietnamese-journalist-san-prison.html

https://www.voanews.com/a/vietnam-jails-leading-journalist-over-facebook-posts/7989811.html

Vietnamese journalist Truong Huy San indicted for ‘abusing democratic freedoms’