Dozens of Hong Kong’s most prominent lawyers, scholars, journalists, activists, and democratic politicians have been imprisoned for their involvement in the pro-democracy movement, sparking outrage both locally and internationally.
Among those jailed are activists Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow, and Ivan Lam, who were sentenced to 13.5 months, 10 months, and 7 months respectively for their roles in organizing and participating in unauthorized assemblies in 2019. Many see these harsh sentences as a clear attempt by the Chinese government to suppress dissent and silence political opposition in Hong Kong.
The sentencing of these activists has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations and world leaders, who have called for their immediate release. The United States and the United Kingdom have both criticized the Chinese government for its crackdown on pro-democracy voices in Hong Kong, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declaring that the US “stands with the people of Hong Kong.”
The recent wave of arrests and convictions in Hong Kong has raised concerns about the future of the city’s autonomy and freedoms, which were promised under the “one country, two systems” principle. Many fear that these latest crackdowns signal a further erosion of Hong Kong’s civil liberties and judicial independence, as Beijing continues to tighten its grip on the territory.
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Video “Outrage after Hong Kong activists jailed for up to ten years” was uploaded on 11/19/2024 to Youtube Channel The Times and The Sunday Times