In a landmark national security trial that has harmed the city’s once tense democracy movement and drawn international condemnation, Hong Kong’s High Court on Tuesday ( November 19 ) sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to 10-year jail terms.
47 protesters were detained and charged with conspiracy to defame subterfuge in 2021, all of whom had been sentenced to life in prison.
Benny Tai, a former constitutional scholar who was labelled as an “organiser” of the 47 protesters, was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Between four and ten times of words were sent.
The allegations relate to the preparation of an illegal “primary poll” in 2020 to choose the best candidates for upcoming parliamentary elections. Prosecutors charged the protesters with plotting to sabotage the government by engaging in possibly disruptive functions had they been elected.
The protesters may be released because they had been “peacefully participating in political actions” that were legal, according to the US, who had criticized the test as being “politically motivated.”
US President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination as secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has been a staunch critic of the test and in an earlier empty email criticised the convictions of the 47 activists as proof of the national security law’s” complete assault on Hong Kong’s autonomy, rule of law, and basic freedoms”.
Following the demonstrations in 2019, the Chinese and Hong Kong institutions claim that local laws were required to restore order and that the protesters were treated appropriately.