Hong Kong courts sentence three activists linked to annual Tiananmen Square vigil commemorations to prison terms of between five and seven years. The convictions come after prosecutors argued that calls for political change violate protections afforded to China’s Communist Party under the national security framework.
The activists were held after being charged in 2021 and are described across outlets as having taken part in the yearly vigils. Multiple sources report that the case draws broad international criticism, including condemnation from the United Nations, human rights groups, and foreign governments. While the outlets differ slightly in emphasis, they converge on the same core points: the length of the sentences, the activists’ vigil involvement, and the use of Hong Kong’s national security law as the legal basis.
