Image Source : Democracy Now
A Hong Kong court has sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to prison terms ranging from six to 10 years on subversion charges. This verdict stems from their involvement in an unofficial primary election held in 2020, which aimed to secure a pro-democracy majority in the Legislative Council .
The defendants, including prominent figures like Benny Tai, Joshua Wong, and Claudia Mo, were accused of conspiring to commit subversion under Hong Kong’s national security law. This law, imposed by Beijing, has been widely criticized for its broad and vague provisions, which many argue are designed to stifle dissent and opposition.
The primary election, which drew over 600,000 voters, was seen as a key strategy for the pro-democracy camp to gain a majority in the Legislative Council. However, the Hong Kong government and Beijing viewed the election as a threat to their authority, and subsequently launched a crackdown on the organizers and participants .
The sentencing of the 45 activists has been widely condemned by human rights groups and pro-democracy advocates, who see it as a further erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms.
