Vietnamese protesters hold images of dissident blogger Nguyen Huu Vinh and land protection activist Can Thi Theu during a mass prayer to call for justice in their trials at Thai Ha church in Hanoi

Vietnam

In Vietnam, the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s TrialWatch initiative has monitored how the authorities use an array of ‘national security’ offenses against journalists and human rights activists.

A policeman stands guard in front of Hanoi City's People's Court during the trial of teacher Vu Hung in Hanoi.

In the case of Pham Thi Doan Trang, for instance, who was tried for ‘anti-state propaganda’ TrialWatch found that proceeding were an abuse of process, and that they violated her rights to a fair trial and freedom of expression. TrialWatch report concluded that her prosecution was “designed to silence her and warn others against criticizing the government of Vietnam.”