Nguyen Phuc Gia Huy
Current Status: At risk
Other Names: Nguyễn Phúc Gia Huy, Dưa Leo (Dua Leo)
Date of Birth:
Gender: M
Ethnicity: Kinh
Occupation: Artist, Blogger
Areas of Activism:
- Freedom of expression
Details - Background, History of Activism, Contact Information.
Huy once participated in Vietnam’s Got Talent. His YouTube channel at one point had nearly 900K subscribers. As a comedian, his clips explore a variety of topics, including some that are considered “politically sensitive” such as “boat people, illegal emigration, and even the recent Dak Lak uprising.”
Profile photo source: YouTube screenshot
In 2016, Huy was summoned by police for a video titled “Freedom of speech is different from personal insults.” In it, he said that “there is no freedom of speech in Vietnam.”
In 2022, Huy sued the state-run paper Nhan Dan for libel after they posted stories (see archived posts in the Resources section) accusing him of “hiding behind the façade of educating the public to incite opposition to the state.” Huy won the lawsuit, which many call an unprecedented event. Nhan Dan had to take down the said articles. Huy’s family said the latest incident could possibly be “an act of revenge,” although that cannot be independently confirmed.
Archived state media articles:
August 15, 2023: detained, allegedly beaten, and fined for videos
- Detention
- Destruction of personal property
- Administrative fines
- Physical assault in a public space
August 15, 2023
Public security
District 10, Ho Chi Minh City (map)
On August 15, 2023, District 10 Police allegedly kidnapped Nguyen Phuc Gia Huy, a comedian with stagename Dưa Leo, while he was having breakfast at a neighborhood eatery. A close friend who wished to remain anonymous said Huy was taken to the police station around 10 am for interrogation without any warrants. He was not released until 11 pm that night. Huy’s family also alleged that he was physically assaulted at the police station.
On August 18, Tuoi Tre Online reported that the police ordered Huy to take down several clips that allegedly “spread false information” and issued an administrative fine of VND 7.5M (~$300 USD).
Vietnamese Stand-up Comedian Condemns National Newspaper For “Defamation and Humiliation,” The Vietnamese, Jan. 27, 2021
Dua Leo, Stand-Up Comedian In Vietnam, Settles Defamation Lawsuit Against State-Owned Newspaper, The Vietnamese, June 7, 2022
Đăng clip sai sự thật, YouTuber Dưa Leo bị xử phạt, Tuoi Tre Online, Aug. 18, 2023
Người thân nói YouTuber Dưa Leo bị công an đánh đập, sau đó phạt 7,5 triệu đồng, RFA Vietnamese, Aug. 18, 2023
Dưa Leo (nghệ sĩ hài độc thoại), Wikipedia page
See additional archived sources under "Descriptive Details"
Profile last updated: 2024-02-01 17:52:49