Emotions were high outside Hong Kong's High Court as 45 pro-democracy activists received sentences for 'subversion' under national security laws, with prison terms up to 10 years. Defendants' families expressed anguish, questioning the justice of the verdicts. Despite the sentences, some supporters viewed this as merely a chapter in a prolonged struggle for democracy, echoing resilience in the face of oppression.
The girlfriend of one of the defendants remarked, 'Today is not an end, but just a beginning, or even a middle point [in history]. Of course, even one day of imprisonment is too much, but we've had a long time to process and prepare mentally, so it's not very shocking.' This reflects a nuanced perspective amidst the turmoil.
Following significant protests in 2019, pro-democracy activists faced harsher measures from Beijing. An unofficial primary election aimed at securing a pro-democracy majority reflected the ongoing struggle, with over 600,000 participants, but officials labeled it an attempt to destabilize governance.
The sentencing of these activists highlights not only individual legal repercussions but also the dire evolution of civil liberties in Hong Kong since the enforcement of the national security law, raising questions about the future of political dissent in the region.
Collection
[
|
...
]