Joshua Wong calls I love Hong Kong after prison terms for democratic leaders

Joshua Wong calls I love Hong Kong after prison terms for democratic leaders

In Hong Kong, more than 40 prominent figures of the Pro Democracy movement were sentenced to prison for up to 10 years. This represents one of the largest setbacks for the already limited political freedom of the city after Beijing has initiated comprehensive repression against different opinions.

judgments against prominent activists

The convicted is also Joshua Wong, a former student leader and symbolic figure of the once flowering Pro Democracy movement in Hong Kong. Before leaving the courtroom, he called: "I love Hong Kong." All 45 defendants, including former MPs, activists, trade unionists and journalists, received prison terms between 50 months and 10 years. This is the greatest prosecution to date in the context of the National Security Act that Beijing introduced four years ago.

reinforcement of repression

After the massive and sometimes violent pro-Democracy protests in 2019, Beijing has tightened his repression against government-critical voices in the formerly liberal city. The mass decorations illustrate how far this transformation has already progressed: from a loud city with 7.5 million inhabitants, the authoritarian Chinese mainland, with many oppositional voices and critical voices, which have either been silent or fled abroad

long -term prison terms for the main accused

The renowned law professor Benny Tai, referred to by the judges as "Hintermann" and "primary person", received the longest sentence of 10 years. Joshua Wong was convicted of 4 years and 8 months. Both were not seen in public for a long time and apparently lost weight. Further prominent judgments were the 7 years in prison for Gwyneth HO, a former journalist, and 6 years and 9 months for the former MP Leung Kwok-hungry.

protests before the court

In the full auditorium of the court in West Kowloon, some relatives and friends had tears in their eyes while the judgments were announced. Others kept themselves bravely, smiled and waved to the accused who returned. A woman was paid by the police in front of the court after trying to show a banner. She had been identified as Elsa Wu, the mother of social worker Hendrick Lui, who was convicted of more than four years in prison.

charges and the national security law

The group, which originally consisted of 47 accused, had been charged with “conspiracy for the commission of subversion”. In 2020, they held an unofficial area code to improve their chances in the city elections. However, the city tour, the police and the public prosecutor's office argued that the democratic area code was a "massive and well -organized project to undermine the Hong Kong government".

international reactions to the judgments

The judgments were convicted internationally. The United States expressed that they "condemned" the punishments and asked the authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong to end the politically motivated persecution of citizens and to leave all political prisoners released. Many of the convicts had already spent more than three years in custody, which nourished the hope of an early release from those with lower punishments.

changes in the political system

Hong Kong, once a British colony, was returned in 1997 with a special agreement with Beijing, which granted the city of autonomy and far -reaching freedom that are not available in mainland china. However, since the National Security Act came into force in 2020, the political and legal environment in Hong Kong has changed drastically. Most prominent Pro Democracy activists are either in prison or in exile, numerous civil society groups have dissolved and many independent media have been discontinued.

The future of Hong Kongs

It remains unclear how Hong Kong's political landscape will develop. Experts express concerns that the current measures further restrict the city's autonomy and significantly reduce the political participation of the citizens. "The new governments have restricted human rights in Hong Kong and implemented a general rule for protests and demonstrations," said John Burns, Emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong.