Human Rights Watch on Friday called for the immediate release of Trinh Ba Phuong, a prominent Vietnamese human rights activist, condemning what it described as an intensifying campaign by the Vietnamese government to silence peaceful dissent.
Phuong, who is already serving a 10-year prison sentence under Article 117 of Vietnam’s penal code for criticizing the state, now faces new charges under the same provision after prison authorities accused him in April 2025 of creating protest signs while incarcerated. One such sign reportedly read, “Down with the Communist [Party of] Vietnam for violating human rights.” He is currently being held incommunicado.
“This latest charge shows the absurd lengths to which Vietnamese authorities will go to trample on freedom of expression,” said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Trinh Ba Phuong is already behind bars for peacefully expressing his views.”
A long-time advocate for land rights, environmental protection, and government accountability, Trinh Ba Phuong comes from a family of activists, mostly imprisoned. His mother, Can Thi Theu, and brother Trinh Ba Tu are both serving eight-year sentences on similar charges. His father and daughter have also faced police harassment and interrogation.
The case comes amid a wider crackdown on free expression in Vietnam. In a new report released this month, Human Rights Watch highlighted the Vietnamese government’s increasing use of Article 331, which criminalizes the “abuse of democratic freedoms,” to target not only activists but also ordinary citizens, including grieving family members and critics of local services. Since 2018, over 124 people have been convicted under this law, quadruple the number in the previous six years.
In a similar case, lawyer Tran Dinh Trien faced prosecution in January 2025 for Facebook posts criticizing Vietnam’s judiciary. His posts questioned trial fairness and transparency, prompting charges of “infringing upon state interests”—a move condemned by rights groups and the UN for stifling legitimate legal commentary.
“Vietnam’s international trade partners need to stop turning a blind eye to these abuses,” Gossman said. “They should publicly call for the release of Trinh Ba Phuong and his family members, and demand an end to the government’s persecution of peaceful dissent.”
Despite its seat on the UN Human Rights Council since 2023, Vietnam continues to elude civil society participation, in violation of its international commitments under various international and regional human rights agreements.
