A Hong Kong court sentenced dozens of pro-democracy figures to up to 10 years in prison in the largest trial under the national security law. The case involved opposition politicians, academics, and activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion for organizing an unofficial primary election in 2020. The court rejected their argument that the plan was legal under Hong Kong law and posed a threat to national security.
The defendants faced up to life imprisonment under the law imposed by Beijing in response to pro-democracy protests. Many of them, including Benny Tai, hoped to win a majority in the Hong Kong legislature to force the resignation of the city’s leader. The trial was seen as part of efforts to eliminate political opposition and re-educate Hong Kong people about acceptable political beliefs.
Critics, including Human Rights Watch, condemned the harsh sentences as a violation of civil liberties and judicial independence. The U.S. and other Western governments also criticized the trial as politically motivated. Despite growing influence from Beijing, most adults in Hong Kong support a democratic system with multiple competing parties.
The trial drew widespread public interest, with hundreds of supporters lining up outside the courthouse. Many expressed outrage at the verdict and the erosion of democracy in Hong Kong. Some, like law student Carson Tsang, saw the trial as a historical moment for the city’s common law system. Overall, the case underscored the challenges facing political dissent in the Chinese territory and sparked debate over the future of democracy in Hong Kong.
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