A Hong Kong court rejected the appeals filed by 94-year-old Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen and four other people against their convictions. The appeals concerned the registration of a fund intended to support people detained during the 2019 anti-government protests.
Cardinal Joseph Zen, a prominent figure in the Catholic world and activist in Hong Kong, was convicted for creating and registering a humanitarian fund. This fund aimed to provide legal and financial support to protesters detained during the pro-democracy protests that occurred in 2019 in the special administrative region.
The authorities in Hong Kong considered the creation and operation of this fund illegal, leading to legal proceedings against its organizers. The Hong Kong court has now confirmed the convictions by rejecting the appeals filed by the defendants.
Cardinal Zen's case has been generating international concern, as it represents one of the most significant cases against religious figures and activists in the region since the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020.
