A Vietnamese court on Friday jailed a dissident for eight years for anti-state activities after he posted on social media commentary critical of the Communist Party and its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite sweeping economic reform and increasing openness to social change, Vietnam's ruling Communist Party retains tight media censorship and tolerates little criticism. Human Rights Watch said last month there were more than 150 people it classified as political prisoners behind bars in Vietnam.
Bui Van Thuan, an online honey salesman and chemistry teacher, was detained in August last year, days after he posted a comment on Facebook questioning authorities after panic buying ahead of a coronavirus lockdown.
