London: Amnesty International has strongly criticized the long prison sentences given to 45 Hong Kong opposition leaders, convicted under the controversial National Security Law. The sentences, some extending up to 10 years, have drawn sharp condemnation from the human rights organization.
Sarah Brooks, Amnesty’s Director for China, said, “No one convicted in this politically driven case should be serving a single day in prison, let alone facing such lengthy sentences.” She went on to call the convictions a “ruthless purge” of opposition voices, asserting that these sentences are designed to punish critics of the Hong Kong government and intimidate others who might consider opposing it.
Brooks also emphasized, “These harsh sentences highlight the severe deterioration of Hong Kong’s justice system. The individuals sentenced have not committed any internationally recognized crimes. They are being imprisoned solely for exercising their human rights. We continue to call for their immediate and unconditional release.”
This case represents the largest prosecution under Hong Kong’s National Security Law, introduced in June 2020. The 47 defendants were charged with “conspiring to subvert state power,” with 31 pleading guilty and 16 maintaining their innocence. Two individuals were acquitted. The charges stemmed from their role in organizing and participating in self-organized “primaries” for the 2020 Legislative Council elections, which were postponed due to the pandemic. A new electoral system was later introduced, vetting candidates more strictly. Hong Kong’s then Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, had warned that these “primaries” could violate the National Security Law, enacted just weeks earlier.
Amnesty International has raised concerns over the use of the National Security Law, stating that treating these self-organized primaries as a threat to Hong Kong’s stability does not meet the standards of international human rights law. Since the law’s passage, nearly 300 people have been arrested for violating it or colonial-era sedition laws. The recent introduction of Article 23 legislation has further intensified repression and silenced opposition voices in the region.
