KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A well-known lawyer from Vietnam began his trial on Thursday, facing allegations related to his Facebook posts criticizing the former chief justice of the country. Human rights advocates have expressed concerns that this case could suppress freedom of expression within Vietnam.
Tran Dinh Trien, who was taken into custody last June, faces charges related to three social media posts that reportedly lambasted the actions of Nguyen Hoa Binh, the former chief justice. According to rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Project 88, Trien is being prosecuted under Article 331 of the Penal Code for “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state.”
At 65 years old, Trien has had a notable career as a lawyer and previously served as the deputy director of the Hanoi Bar Association. His trial is set to continue for two days and features a defense team of twelve lawyers, according to reports from state media. If found guilty, he may face a prison sentence of up to seven years.
In his Facebook posts, Trien highlighted issues such as the exclusion of family members from trials, restrictions placed on journalists and lawyers trying to record open hearings, and he spoke out against Chief Justice Binh’s ruling concerning Ho Duy Hai, a death row inmate whose case included significant procedural irregularities. The highest court accused Trien of disseminating false information that could harm Binh’s reputation and the integrity of the legal system.
Notably, Trien’s arrest coincided with that of another significant figure, journalist and historian Truong Huy San, just one week after To Lam was appointed as the new president of the Communist Party. Two months later, Binh transitioned to become the country’s deputy prime minister.
Project 88 has asserted that Trien’s prosecution infringes on international laws that safeguard open political dialogue and the right to critique public officials. The organization warned that a conviction would establish a troubling precedent for legal practitioners in Vietnam and would likely deter the public from speaking out against their leaders, especially on social media platforms.
Furthermore, Human Rights Watch noted that Trien is part of a troubling trend in Vietnam where numerous prominent lawyers have faced legal repercussions for their activities on social media. In recent years, at least four Vietnamese lawyers have sought asylum in other countries, particularly the United States, over fears of being imprisoned.
Vietnamese authorities have increasingly invoked Article 331 to stifle dissent, leading to the conviction of at least 24 individuals under this clause within the last year alone. Human Rights Watch has demanded that all charges against Trien be dropped and that he and others facing prosecution for peacefully expressing their political views be released without delay.
Vietnam ranks poorly on the 2024 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, landing at 174th out of 180 assessed nations. The Committee to Protect Journalists has identified Vietnam as one of the top five countries for imprisoning journalists, with at least 19 reporters incarcerated as of December.
