May 23, 2012
HANOI, Vietnam – An official says a court in central Vietnam has sentenced three political activists to up to three and a half years in prison for distributing anti-government leaflets.
Presiding Judge Vi Van Chat said that the three were convicted of "spreading propaganda against the state" at Thursday's half-day trial in Nghe An province.
He says they were also ordered to serve up to 18 months under house arrest, adding that the fourth defendant was given a two-year suspended sentence.
Chat declined to give details.
Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, says in a statement that the four are Catholic activists who were arrested after passing out pro-democracy materials. He called for their immediate release.
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