Public Security chief launches digital vehicle plate wallet service    'Action is in our nature': 4th Saudi Green Initiative Forum to be held at COP16    Pop hit APT too distracting for South Korea's exam-stressed students    Saudi Arabia's inflation rate hits 1.9% in October, the highest in 14 months    Mohammed Al-Habib Real Estate Co. sets Guinness World Record with largest continuous concrete pour    PIF completes largest-ever accelerated bookbuild offering in MENA region    Saudi Arabia signs renewable energy program with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan at COP29    Australia and Saudi Arabia settle for goalless draw in AFC Asian Qualifiers    Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of mass displacement in Gaza amounting to war crime    Thousands of protesters march in Paris ahead of tense football match between France and Israel    Republicans win 218 US House seats, giving Donald Trump control of government    UN sounds alarm at Israel's 'severe violations' at key buffer zone with Syria    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    Saudi, Indian foreign ministers co-chair Cooperation Committee meeting in New Delhi    South Korean actor Song Jae Lim found dead at 39    Don't sit on the toilet for more than 10 minutes, doctors warn    'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' to dazzle audience in Tokyo on Nov. 22    Saudi Champion Saeed Al-Mouri scores notable feat in Radical World Championship in Abu Dhabi with support from Bin-Shihon Group    Rita Ora is tearful in tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Awards    France to deploy 4,000 police officers for UEFA Nations League match against Israel    Al Nassr edges past Al Riyadh with Mane's goal to move up to third    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Vietnam: UN rights office denounces ‘increasing clampdown'
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 09 - 01 - 2021

The UN human rights office (OHCHR), on Friday, voiced concerns over the use of "vaguely defined laws" in Vietnam, to arbitrarily detain an increasing number of journalists, bloggers, commentators and rights defenders, amidst what appears to be part of an "increasing clampdown" on the freedom of expression in the country.
"They are then frequently held incommunicado for long periods in pre-trial detention, with regular reports of violations of the right to a fair trial and concerns about their treatment in detention," Ravina Shamdasani, an OHCHR spokesperson, said at a media briefing in Geneva.
"Several of them have received lengthy sentences following their conviction for crimes against national security," she added.
According to OHCHR, Pham Chi Dung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy and Le Huu Minh Tuan, respectively the chairperson, the vice chairperson and member of the Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam, were convicted by the People's Court in Ho Chi Minh City on Jan. 5, of "making, storing, spreading information, materials, items for the purpose of opposing the State" under Article 117 of the country's Criminal Code.
Pham Chi Dung was sentenced to 15 years in prison and three years on probation. Nguyen Tuong Thuy and Le Huu Minh Tuan were each sentenced to 11 years and three years on probation.
"All three individuals were held in lengthy pre-trial detention, and despite assurances given by the Government that due process was followed, there are serious concerns about whether their rights to a fair trial were fully respected," Shamdasani said.
Intimidation and reprisals
Shamdasani went on to note that Vietnam's use of vaguely-defined laws to arbitrarily detain people were in violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), on the right to hold opinions and freedom of expression.
She urged the country to revise and amend the relevant provisions of the Criminal Code to bring them in line with its obligations under the Covenant.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and a number of UN human rights mechanisms, including the Human Rights Committee, which oversees implementation of the ICCPR, have repeatedly called on the country to refrain from using restrictive legislation to curtail fundamental freedoms and to uphold its international human rights obligations, she added.
"We also have serious concerns that individuals who try to cooperate with the UN's human rights bodies are subjected to intimidation and reprisals, potentially inhibiting others from sharing information about human rights issues with the UN," Shamdasani said.
"We continue to raise these cases with the government of Vietnam, to call on them to stop the repeated use of such serious criminal charges against individuals for exercising their fundamental rights, especially to freedom of expression — and to unconditionally release all those who have been detained in such cases." — UN News


Clic here to read the story from its source.