Vietnam sentences blogger Nguyen Chi Tuyen to 5 years in prison

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published last year |  CPJ News Alert

BANGKOK—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the sentencing of Nguyen Chi Tuyen, one of Vietnam's best-known civil society activists and YouTubers, to five years in prison for his news reporting and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

A court in the capital Hanoi ruled that Nguyen, who has been in detention since he was arrested at home in February, had violated Article 117 of the penal code, a broad provision that prohibits making, storing, or disseminating information against the state. Tuyen's lawyer, Nguyen Ha Luan, said he would consider appealing the conviction.

"Nguyen Chi Tuyen's sentencing is the latest outrage against Vietnam's free press and should be promptly reversed,"” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative. "Vietnam’s unrelenting campaign to silence journalists must stop now."

Tuyen, also known as Anh Chi, uses social media to report and comment on political and social issues. His AC Media YouTube channel, which focuses on the Ukraine war, has some 57,000 followers, while his Anh Chi Rau Den YouTube channel has 98,000 subscribers, according to CPJ's review.  

Vietnam was the fifth worst jailer of journalists worldwide, with at least 19 reporters behind bars on December 1, 2023, in CPJ's latest annual global prison census.  

Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security did not immediately respond to CPJ's email requesting comment on Thang's conviction.

Photo: Reuters/Kham