Vietnam court jails journalist Huy Duc for 30 months over Facebook posts
Al JazeeraMAR 3
Vietnam Jails Journalist for 'Abusing Democratic Freedoms'
Above: Truong Huy San. Image copyright: STR/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Huy Duc's prosecution was necessary to protect national security and social order. His posts garnered significant interaction and caused negative impacts on public safety, requiring legal action under Vietnamese law. As he admitted that his content violated state interests, Huy Du was given a lenient sentence.
Narrative B
The heavy prison sentence undermines society's right to truth and accountability, highlighting the regime's determination to silence independent voices and its contempt for press freedom. Huy Duc's articles were an invaluable source of censored information for the Vietnamese public — an exercise of democratic freedoms, not an abuse.