Profile

Nguyen Dang Thuong

Current Status: Likely released - at risk

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Other Names: Nguyễn Đăng Thương

Date of Birth:

Gender: M

Last Known Prison: District 8 Police Temporary Detention Center

Areas of Activism:

  • Democracy
  • Economic reform

Highlighted Human Rights Concerns:

  • Former Political Prisoner
  • Denial of Legal Representation
  • Online commentator

December 2020:

On December 21, social media activists Huynh Anh Khoa, Nguyen Dang Thuong, and Tran Trong Khai were sentenced to 15 months, 18 months, and 12 months in prison, respectively. They were accused of “abusing democratic freedoms” under Article 331 of the 2015 Criminal Code for administering a Facebook page that discusses economics and politics. The defendants were tried without counsel, and their families were not allowed into the courtroom.

Details - History of Activism, Contact Information.

Little is known about Thuong’s activism. According to Defend the Defenders, Thuong and Huynh Anh Khoa moderated the Facebook group named Bàn luận Kinh tế-Chính trị (Economic-Political Discussion) with 46,000 followers. 

Arrested June 13, 2020. Sentenced to 1 year 6 months in prison under Art. 331 (2015 Code). Expected Release is December 13, 2021.

June 13, 2020
  • Art. 331 (2015 Code)
Binh Tan district public security, Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh city (map)
December 21, 2020
People’s Court of District 8, Ho Chi Minh City
1 year 6 months in prison
December 13, 2021
  • freedom from arbitrary arrest or detention
  • liberty and security of the person
  • freedom of expression
  • fair trial

Police in Ho Chi Minh City arrested Huynh Anh Khoa and Nguyen Dang Thuong on June 13, 2020, for their activities in an online discussion group. They have been charged with “abusing democratic freedoms” under Article 331 of the 2015 Criminal Code. Public security officers from the District 8 police department searched Khoa’s home and forced him and his wife to sign three unspecified documents; he and Thuong are both reportedly now held at the District 8 Police Detention Center. Defend the Defenders reported that Khoa led a Facebook group with almost 50,000 users called Economic-Political Discussion. The group was closed down after the arrests.

December 2020:

The trial for Facebookers Huynh Anh Khoa and Nguyen Dang Thuong, scheduled for December 7, was moved to December 21 after Thuong requested a delay due to poor health. Their families were not notified of the trial date until the morning of the trial, and then they were called and told it’d been postponed.

Profile last updated: 2022-01-04 20:07:58

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