Hong Kong: 45 pro-democracy activists sentenced to prison in biggest national security case

euronews (in English)

A Hong Kong court has handed prison sentences to 45 democracy advocates in the city's largest trial under the 2020 national security law, with rights groups condemning the verdict.

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00:0045 activists from Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement were sentenced to prison on Tuesday

00:08in the biggest case under the Beijing-imposed 2020 national security law, which widely criminalizes

00:14dissent.

00:15The activists were among the prominent Hong Kong 47 arrested in 2021 for their involvement

00:21in an unofficial pre-election primary vote that drew record turnout.

00:27Activists accused them of planning to paralyze Hong Kong's government by using a legislative

00:32majority to block government budgets indiscriminately.

00:37Hundreds of people stood in line in rain and winds for a seat in courts to show their support

00:41for the activists.

00:44Of course it will silence more people because you see how a primary can be illegal and lead

00:53to 10 years of sentencing so of course it will silence more people.

00:59Human rights organizations have criticized the sentencing for undermining Hong Kong's

01:03civil liberties and judicial independence.

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