Dozens of leading pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong were sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, the largest trial under the national security law that critics believe has stifled political dissent in the Chinese territory. The defendants, including former law professor Benny Tai, were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion for their roles in an unofficial primary election in 2020. The primary aimed to boost democrats’ chances of winning in the upcoming legislature election but was seen as a threat to national security by authorities.
The harsh sentences handed down by the court have been criticized by the US and other Western governments as politically motivated. Most of the defendants have been held without bail since their arrests in early 2021. The trial is seen as part of an effort to eliminate opposition in Hong Kong and re-educate the population about political beliefs.
Despite growing influence from Beijing, over 80% of adults in Hong Kong support a democratic system. Hundreds of people lined up outside the courtroom for the activists’ sentencing, with some expressing outrage over the trial’s outcome and the erosion of democracy in the city. The trial is a defining moment for Hong Kong’s common law system, with many expressing determination to continue fighting for democracy, despite the challenges they face.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
