Hong Kong Court Convicts Tiananmen Vigil Organizers on Security Charges

In a significant ruling that underscores the diminishing landscape of free speech in Hong Kong, two prominent pro-democracy activists have been convicted of national security offenses. Lee Cheuk-yan, 69, and Chow Hang-tung, 41, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were found guilty of "incitement to subversion" on Friday for their involvement in organizing candlelight vigils commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989.

The activists, who maintained their innocence, faced charges stemming from events in 2021 and could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. Prosecutors claimed their actions posed a threat to national security under the guise of human rights advocacy. Chow, a self-representing human rights lawyer, asserted that the law itself was on trial.

Mark Clifford, president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, expressed disappointment but not surprise at the verdict, suggesting that the judicial system had already predetermined their guilt. He referred to Chow and Lee as "true Chinese patriots" silenced for challenging the Communist Party's narrative.

The candlelight vigils, banned since 2020, were the last major public remembrances of the Tiananmen crackdown, which led to countless deaths and injuries as the Chinese government suppressed pro-democracy protests.

Source: www.aljazeera.com