Hong Kong Activists Sentenced Under National Security Law

In a significant crackdown on pro-democracy activism, 45 prominent activists in Hong Kong were sentenced to prison terms of up to 10 years under a national security law imposed by Beijing. The defendants were prosecuted for their involvement in an unofficial primary election in 2020, accused of conspiracy to paralyze the government and force the resignation of the city’s leader. The sentences, which ranged from four years and two months to ten years, reflect the ongoing suppression of political dissent in Hong Kong, where most opposition figures have been jailed or exiled. Notable sentences included legal scholar Benny Tai, who received a ten-year term, and Joshua Wong, sentenced to four years and eight months. This mass sentencing has drawn international criticism, highlighting the erosion of civil liberties in Hong Kong since the law's implementation. The case underscores the broader implications of the national security law on political freedoms in the region, with observers warning of a chilling effect on dissent and civil society.