Emily Johnson
Me Nam, also known as Mother Mushroom, is the pen name of prominent Vietnamese blogger and activist Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh. Beginning her career in 2006, Me Nam's work focused on social and political issues in Vietnam, including land confiscation, police brutality, environmentalism, and freedom of expression. Me Nam's activism led to her arrest in October 2016, where she was charged with 'conducting propaganda against the state' under Article 88 of Vietnam's Penal Code. Following her arrest, Me Nam was sentenced to ten years in prison, sparking international outrage and calls for her release from human rights organizations and foreign governments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh |
| Age | 37 or 38 years old |
| Pseudonyms | Me Nam, Mother Mushroom |
| Profession | Blogger, Social Activist, Environmental Activist |
| Awards | Hellman Hammett Grant from Human Rights Watch, Civil Rights Defender of the Year by Civil Rights Defenders, Courage Award by Melania Trump |
| Notable Events | Arrested on 10 October 2016, Released from prison on 17 October 2018, Exiled to the United States |
| Charges | Conducting propaganda against the state, Defaming the Communist regime, Distorting government policies |
| Sentence | 10-year prison sentence |
| Organisations | Founding member of the Vietnamese Bloggers Network |
| Notable Causes | Environmental disaster caused by Formosa Ha Tinh Steel plant, Police brutality, Freedom of expression, Land confiscation |
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What You'll Learn
Mother Mushroom's arrest and charges
Mother Mushroom, whose real name is Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, is a prominent independent blogger and social activist from Vietnam. She was arrested on October 10, 2016, in Khanh Hoa while trying to visit an imprisoned political activist. She was charged under Article 88 of Vietnam's 1999 Penal Code, which prohibits "propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam." Specifically, she was accused of conducting propaganda against the State through her blog posts, which were critical of the Communist regime and exposed government corruption, human rights abuses, and environmental disasters.
For years, Mother Mushroom had been under government surveillance, harassment, and intimidation due to her activism. Her arrest sparked international outrage, with the United States, the European Union, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights demanding her release. They argued that her detention violated international human rights norms and Vietnam's domestic laws on human rights. Despite these appeals, Mother Mushroom was convicted on June 29, 2017, and sentenced to ten years in prison.
During her trial, Mother Mushroom remained unapologetic for her criticism of the government, stating, "Each person only has one life, but if I had the chance to choose again, I would still choose my way." Her conviction was upheld by the People's High Court in Khanh Hoa on November 30, 2017, despite her admission that her writings were critical of the government but did not constitute a crime.
Unexpectedly, on October 17, 2018, Mother Mushroom was released from prison and went into exile in the United States, settling in Houston with her mother and two children. Her release was a surprise to many, and she vowed to continue her activism, stating, "I will continue to raise my voice until there is human rights in Vietnam, real human rights."
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Her work as a social activist
Me Nam, or Mother Mushroom, is the pseudonym of Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, a prominent Vietnamese social activist and independent blogger. She rose to fame in Vietnam's blogosphere in the late 2000s for her independent citizen journalism, addressing social and political issues including land confiscation, police brutality, environmentalism, and freedom of expression.
Me Nam first began blogging on parenting websites in 2006, adopting the moniker "Mother Mushroom" from her youngest daughter's nickname, "Nam" or "Mushroom". Her focus soon shifted to social activism, particularly around environmentalism and police brutality. In April 2016, she joined massive protests surrounding the environmental disaster caused by the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel plant, which resulted in a massive fish kill along a 120-mile stretch of the Vietnamese coast. Me Nam criticised the Vietnamese government for their slow response to the crisis and their refusal to disclose the nature of the chemicals released.
In addition to her environmental activism, Me Nam advocated for an end to police brutality and the confiscation of land. She also championed efforts in Vietnamese civil society to hold political discussions on Facebook, a platform that allowed her to reach a wider audience. Her motto, "Who will speak if you don't?", captures her defiant attitude towards the Vietnamese government and her commitment to speaking out against injustice.
Me Nam's work as a social activist did not come without consequences. She faced constant police harassment, intimidation, and interrogation, and was put under house arrest on numerous occasions to prevent her from attending important events. Despite the risks, she remained unapologetic for her criticism of the government. On October 10, 2016, she was arrested while trying to visit an imprisoned political activist and charged with "conducting propaganda against the state" under Article 88 of Vietnam's Penal Code. She was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Me Nam's arrest sparked international outrage, with the United States, the European Union, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights demanding her release. On October 17, 2018, she was unexpectedly released from prison and went into exile in the United States, where she continues to raise her voice for human rights in Vietnam.
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Her involvement in the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel plant protests
Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, better known as Mother Mushroom, is a prominent independent blogger and activist in Vietnam. In April 2016, a massive fish kill along a 120-mile stretch of the Vietnamese coast devastated the marine ecosystem, sickened people who consumed the fish, and crippled the local fishing industry. The Formosa Ha Tinh Steel plant, owned by the Formosa Plastics Group, admitted responsibility for the toxic spill, blaming it on an accidental release of chemicals during a test run.
Mother Mushroom was particularly active in the protests that followed the environmental disaster. She criticized the Vietnamese government for their slow response to the crisis and their refusal to disclose the nature of the chemicals released, even to medical professionals treating those affected. Mother Mushroom's activism and criticism of the government led to her arrest in October 2016. She was charged under Article 88 of Vietnam's Penal Code, which prohibits "propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam."
In June 2017, Mother Mushroom was convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison for her blog posts criticizing the Communist regime and exposing government policies. Her conviction was upheld by the People's High Court in November 2017. However, in an unexpected turn of events, she was released from prison in October 2018 and went into exile in the United States.
Mother Mushroom's involvement in the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel plant protests is a testament to her dedication to social and environmental activism in Vietnam. Her activism brought attention to the government's handling of the environmental disaster and the impact on the lives and livelihoods of those affected. Despite facing surveillance, harassment, and imprisonment, Mother Mushroom continues to raise her voice for human rights and social justice in Vietnam.
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Mother Mushroom's sentence and imprisonment
Mother Mushroom, or Me Nam, is the pseudonym of prominent Vietnamese blogger and activist Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh. On October 10, 2016, Mother Mushroom was arrested in the province of Khanh Hoa while trying to visit a political activist who was imprisoned. She was charged under Article 88 of Vietnam's 1999 Penal Code, which prohibits "propaganda against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam."
Mother Mushroom's arrest was widely condemned by the international community, including the United States, the European Union, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who stated that her detention violated international human rights norms and Vietnam's domestic laws on human rights. Despite these appeals, on June 29, 2017, Mother Mushroom was convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison for her critical blog posts about the Communist regime and the government's policies.
During her trial, Mother Mushroom remained unapologetic for her actions, stating, "Each person only has a life, but if I had the chance to choose again I would still choose my way." Her conviction was upheld by the People's High Court in Khanh Hoa on November 30, 2017, despite her admission that while she had written articles critical of the government, this did not constitute a crime.
Unexpectedly, on October 17, 2018, Mother Mushroom was released from prison and went into exile in the United States, along with her elderly mother and two children. Her release came as a surprise, and she vowed to continue her activism, stating, "I will continue to raise my voice until there is human rights in Vietnam, real human rights."
Mother Mushroom's case highlights the challenges faced by activists and bloggers in Vietnam, where the ruling Communist Party exerts tight control over media and writers. Her activism and imprisonment brought attention to the issue of government censorship and the right to freedom of expression in Vietnam.
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Her release and exile in the United States
On October 17, 2018, Me Nam, also known as Mother Mushroom, was unexpectedly released from prison and exiled to the United States, landing in Houston with her elderly mother and two children. Her release came after years of government surveillance, harassment, and intimidation, which began in 2006 when she started blogging about social and political issues in Vietnam, including land confiscation, police brutality, and freedom of expression.
Me Nam was arrested on October 10, 2016, in Khanh Hoa, and charged under Article 88 of the Penal Code for "conducting propaganda against the State." This arrest occurred while she was trying to visit an imprisoned political activist. The United States, the European Union, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights demanded her release, stating that her detention violated international human rights norms and Vietnam's domestic laws on human rights.
On June 29, 2017, Me Nam was convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison for writing blog posts that were critical of the Communist regime and its policies. She stood trial in the city of Nha Trang and was unapologetic for her criticism, stating, "Each person only has a life, but if I had the chance to choose again, I would still choose my way." Her conviction was upheld on November 30, 2017, when her appeal was heard and denied.
Me Nam's release in 2018 came as a surprise, and she told AFP that she chose exile for her family, but vowed to continue fighting for human rights in Vietnam. Her activism and courage have been recognized internationally, including by the United States, which awarded her the International Women of Courage Award in 2017. Me Nam's exile in the United States allows her to continue her activism and shine a light on the human rights situation in Vietnam.
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Frequently asked questions
Me Nam, or Mother Mushroom, is the pseudonym of prominent Vietnamese blogger and activist Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh.
Me Nam was arrested on October 10, 2016, for ""conducting propaganda against the state" under Article 88 of Vietnam's Penal Code. She was specifically charged with writing blog posts that were defamatory of the Communist regime and distorted government policies.
Me Nam was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison on June 29, 2017. Her appeal was heard and denied on November 30, 2017. However, she was unexpectedly released from prison on October 17, 2018, and went into exile in the United States.
Me Nam's blog addressed social, political, and environmental concerns in Vietnam. She wrote about issues such as government corruption, human rights abuses, land confiscation, police brutality, and freedom of expression. She was also particularly active in protests surrounding the environmental disaster caused by the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel plant in 2016.
