Amnesty International Criticizes Sentences for Hong Kong Opposition Figures
Amnesty International Criticizes Sentences for Hong Kong Opposition Figures
Amnesty International has spoken out against the prison sentences given to 45 Hong Kong opposition figures. These individuals were convicted of "conspiring to subvert state power" under Hong Kong's National Security Law, with sentences reaching up to 10 years. Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International's China Director, criticized the sentences as politically motivated, stating that none of the convicted individuals should be imprisoned for exercising their human rights.
The case is the largest prosecution under the National Security Law, enacted in June 2020. The 47 defendants were charged with "conspiracy to commit subversion" for organizing "primaries" for the 2020 Legislative Council elections. These elections were postponed due to Covid-19, and a new electoral system was later introduced by the Chinese government. Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's chief executive at the time, had warned that the "primaries" could violate the National Security Law.
Amnesty International has expressed concern over the use of the National Security Law, arguing that it does not align with international human rights standards. Since the law's enactment, nearly 300 people have been arrested for related offenses, and the introduction of Article 23 legislation has further suppressed opposition voices in Hong Kong.
Doubts Revealed
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is a global organization that works to protect human rights. They speak out when they think people are being treated unfairly or when laws are not fair.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a special region in China. It used to be a British colony and has its own laws and government, but it is part of China.
National Security Law
The National Security Law is a law in Hong Kong that was made to stop actions that might harm the country. Some people think it is used to stop people from speaking out against the government.
Sarah Brooks
Sarah Brooks is a person who works for Amnesty International. She is in charge of looking at how China treats people and if they follow human rights.
Conspiracy to commit subversion
This means planning to do something that tries to change or harm the government. In this case, it was about organizing elections in a way the government did not like.
Primaries
Primaries are elections held to choose candidates for a main election. In this case, it was about choosing people to run in the 2020 elections in Hong Kong.
International human rights standards
These are rules that many countries agree on to make sure people are treated fairly and have basic rights, like freedom of speech and fair trials.
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