Hong Kong’s High Court sentences 45 pro-democracy activists to jail terms of up to 10 years in a landmark national security trial.
Full story: https://www.rappler.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-democrats-sentenced-november-19-2024/
Full story: https://www.rappler.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-democrats-sentenced-november-19-2024/
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00:00Hong Kong's High Court sentences 45 pro-democracy activists to jail terms of up to 10 years
00:06in a landmark national security trial.
00:09In 2021, 47 pro-democracy activists were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion
00:15under a Beijing-imposed national security law for organizing an unofficial primary election.
00:21Former legal scholar Ben Yitai, who was accused of being the organizer, was sentenced to 10
00:25years in jail.
00:27Hundreds of people queued outside the court as they tried to secure a seat within the
00:30main courtroom and several spillover courts.
00:33The United States criticized the trial as politically motivated and says the activists
00:37should be released as they had been peacefully participating in legal political activities.
00:42The Chinese and Hong Kong governments say the national security laws were necessary
00:46to restore order after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019.