Hong Kong court sentences 3 Tiananmen vigil organizers to prison in national security case
HONG KONG (AP) -- Three Hong Kong activists who organized annual vigils in remembrance of China's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown were sentenced Frida
Three Hong Kong activists convicted of organizing annual Tiananmen Square remembrance vigils received prison sentences on Friday, sparking international outrage and raising concerns about the erosion of freedoms in the city. Lee Cheuk-yan, Chow Hang-tung, and Albert Ho were each given sentences ranging from five to seven years, with Chow pleading guilty and receiving a shorter term.
The activists were charged under Beijing's national security law for inciting subversion. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, a group that had led the vigils for decades, was dissolved following the sentencing. The trial centered on the group's demand for an end to one-party rule, which the court deemed a threat to national security.
Critics argue the verdict marks a significant tightening of restrictions on peaceful expression in Hong Kong, a city known for its vibrant civil society before recent crackdowns.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
