The rights group Human Rights Watch has publicly called for the immediate release of Vietnamese human rights activist Trinh Ba Phuong, who is currently serving a 10-year sentence under Article 117 of Vietnam’s penal code. This escalation is perceived as part of a broader campaign by the Vietnamese government to stifle dissent. Trinh Ba Phuong faces additional charges stemming from his alleged creation of protest signs while incarcerated, further questioning the boundaries of freedom of expression within the country.
As reported by Human Rights Watch, Patricia Gossman, Associate Asia Director, criticized the Vietnamese government’s actions, highlighting the lengths taken to suppress peaceful expression. Vietnam’s government is accused of increasingly using legal provisions, such as Article 331, which criminalizes the “abuse of democratic freedoms,” in its attempts to target not only activists like Phuong but also ordinary citizens.
This trend towards criminalizing dissent was also evident in the case of lawyer Tran Dinh Trien, who faced prosecution in January 2025 for Facebook posts critical of Vietnam’s judiciary. Legal experts and human rights organizations, as well as the United Nations, have condemned these actions for essentially stifling legitimate legal analysis and commentary.
The Human Rights Watch has urged Vietnam’s international trade partners to take a stand against these violations by calling for the release of Phuong and his family members—many of whom are also imprisoned—and demanding an end to the persecution of peaceful dissent. Despite holding a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, Vietnam is accused of eluding civil society participation in breach of its international human rights commitments.