Categories: World

Seven pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong sentenced as China continues to clampdown on activists

<p>
As many as seven campaigners for democracy in Hong Kong, “including former lawmakers,” have been sentenced to up to one year in jail “for their roles in a protest last year against the sweeping National Security Law imposed by China,” Reuters reported.</p>
<p>
The news agency said that the seven had pleaded guilty to charges that included organizing the unauthorized assembly on July 1 last year when thousands of protesters took to the streets. While one of them, Figo Chan, a former convenor of the now-disbanded Civil Human Rights Front has been sentenced to one year in jail, others have been given six-10 months of imprisonment.</p>
<p>
Beijing has been aggressively clamping down on pro-democracy outfits.</p>
<p>
Earlier, a pro-democracy Hong Kong based newspaper, Apple Daily which had been critical of Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party too closed down as the authorities raided its offices and arrested staff members and editors</p>
<p>
In July, the 32-year-old Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China — the organisation that leads the annual June 4 commemoration in the memory of 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown announced its decision to lay off all staff as Beijing intensified its clampdown on pro-democracy organisations and activists.</p>
<p>
The pro-democracy organisation had been set up in May 1989 not only to support students but also citizens who sought democracy and freedom. It said in a statement that the political climate in Hong Kong in the past year had turned for the worse.</p>

AddThis Website Tools
IN Bureau

Recent Posts

“Iran launched over 450 ballistic missiles and hundreds of UAVs in last 6 days,” Israel Defence Spox says

Israel Defence Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin on Thursday said that Iran has expressed…

7 hours ago

French company Safran ties up with HAL to produce LEAP engines’ forged parts

India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and French engine manufacturer, Safran Aircraft Engines, signed an agreement…

9 hours ago

India records highest growth in power generation after US & China in last five years: IEA

India has emerged as a country with the third-largest growth in power generation capacity globally…

10 hours ago

PM Modi lauds Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh for defeating world number one in World Team Blitz Championships

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Indian chess grandmaster Divya Deshmukh for defeating world number one…

10 hours ago

Pakistan: Mahrang Baloch’s sister accuses prison authorities of harassing them during jail visit

The family of detained Baloch leader Mahrang Baloch has accused prison authorities at Quetta's Hudda…

10 hours ago

“Great news for education sector”: PM Modi hails India’s 2026 QS World University Rankings

The QS World University 2026 Rankings bring great news for our education sector, as the…

12 hours ago