Vietnam's 'Mother Mushroom' blogger fears arrest

A pioneering Vietnamese blogger says she may be charged with 'propaganda' against the state or 'abusing democratic freedoms' after being repeatedly questioned by police.

Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, who blogs under the name Me Nam [Mother Mushroom], was questioned by police in the coastal city of Nha Trang about her Facebok activities on three consecutive days beginning Nov. 4, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported.

Quynh was previously arrested in 2009 for blogging about government land confiscations related to a Chinese-backed bauxite mine, the press freedom group said. She was also detained in 2013 for handing out copies of the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

"Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh is wise to fear for her safety and freedom after being hauled in for questioning by police," said Bob Dietz, CPJ's Asia program coordinator, in a statement. "Vietnam's record of abuse of bloggers is well known."

In May, blogger Nguyen Huu Vin and his assistant were arrested on the charge of 'abusing democratic freedoms.' At least 18 journalists are in prison in Vietnam, according to a 2013 report by CPJ.