A Hong Kong court has sentenced a 36-year-old lawyer to 15 months in prison on Tuesday for inciting an unsanctioned rally in memory of those killed in the 1989 Chinese crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
Activist Chow Hang-tung of the Hong Kong-based Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China was arrested last year the day before June 4, marking the anniversary of the crackdown.
Police have banned annual vigils over repression in Tiananmen Square in Hong Kong over the past two years, citing restrictions on the coronavirus.
But after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019, many activists saw the bans as an attempt to stop demonstrations of disobedience to Beijing. Authorities denied that was the reason.
Despite the ban, thousands lit candles across the city in 2020, and smaller groups did the same in 2021.
Chow's accusation is related to social media posts entitled "Candlelighting is not a crime: defend your position" and her article in Ming Pao newspaper, entitled "Candlelight carries the weight of conscience and the people of Hong Kong who persistently say the truth. "
Magistrate Amy Chan at West Kowloon Magistrates' Court said she found the publications and article to be "encouraging, persuading, making suggestions and pressuring members of the public" and "equally encouraging others to knowingly participate in unauthorized gatherings".
"Chan added that the meeting posed a "risk to public health".
Last month, eight pro-democracy activists were sentenced to up to 14 months for their role in the 2020 vigil. Among them was Chow, who received a 12-month sentence.
No comments:
Post a Comment