Amnesty International Recognizes Human Rights Defenders in China
On October 2, Amnesty International awarded the title of ‘Prisoners of Conscience’ to three human rights defenders from China and Hong Kong: Chow Hang-tung, Ding Jiaxi, and Jimmy Lai. These individuals are imprisoned for their peaceful activism, and Amnesty International is calling for their immediate release.
Chow Hang-tung and Jimmy Lai
Chow Hang-tung, a human rights lawyer, and Jimmy Lai, a media advocate, have been targeted under the National Security Law in Hong Kong. Chow was jailed for participating in a vigil and encouraging others to remember the Tiananmen crackdown victims. Jimmy Lai’s newspaper, Apple Daily, was shut down after police raids, and he was charged with colluding with foreign forces.
Ding Jiaxi
Ding Jiaxi, another human rights lawyer, was sentenced to 12 years for “subverting state power” after attending a meeting in Xiamen. He was held incommunicado for over a year, highlighting the harsh measures against activists in mainland China.
Amnesty International’s Stance
Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International’s China Director, criticized the Chinese government’s failure to uphold human rights, stating that the detentions show a stark contrast to the government’s claims of progress. Amnesty defines ‘prisoners of conscience’ as those jailed for their beliefs without advocating violence.
Doubts Revealed
Amnesty International -: Amnesty International is a global organization that works to protect human rights. They help people who are unfairly treated or imprisoned for speaking out for justice.
Prisoners of Conscience -: Prisoners of Conscience are people who are jailed not because they did something wrong, but because they peacefully expressed their beliefs. Amnesty International supports these people and calls for their release.
Chow Hang-tung -: Chow Hang-tung is a human rights activist from Hong Kong. She is known for her peaceful protests and efforts to promote democracy and freedom.
Ding Jiaxi -: Ding Jiaxi is a lawyer and activist from mainland China. He works to protect human rights and has been jailed for his peaceful activities.
Jimmy Lai -: Jimmy Lai is a businessman and activist from Hong Kong. He supports democracy and freedom of speech, and has been imprisoned for his beliefs.
National Security Law -: The National Security Law is a law in Hong Kong that is used to punish people who are seen as a threat to the government. Many believe it is used to silence those who speak out for freedom and democracy.
Human rights -: Human rights are basic rights and freedoms that all people should have, like the right to speak freely, live safely, and be treated fairly. Organizations like Amnesty International work to protect these rights.