Three activists were sentenced to five to seven years in prison for participating in commemorative vigils for the Tiananmen massacre in Hong Kong. The sentences were applied under the national security law imposed by China in 2020.
The activists were tried and convicted on charges related to activities considered subversive or separatist by the Hong Kong regime, for organizing or participating in the traditional annual vigils of June 4 in the city.
The court decision was severely criticized by international human rights organizations, which consider the sentences disproportionate and a serious violation of fundamental freedoms. The UN and several foreign governments also publicly condemned the sentences.
The Tiananmen vigil, which for decades was tolerated in Hong Kong, became illegal after the imposition of the national security law, which criminalized most forms of political expression critical of the Chinese central government.
