On Tuesday, four former opposition lawmakers who were imprisoned in Hong Kong’s notable national security case last year were set free after serving their sentences.
They were the first among 45 individuals convicted to be released from jail.
All four individuals were taken from prison in vehicles with curtains drawn.
In November, the four opposition figures admitted to their crimes and were each given a four-year and two-month prison sentence.
Why were the opposition members detained?
Last year, authorities in Hong Kong took into custody 47 individuals on charges of subversion under a national security law implemented by Beijing.
These figures included some well-known democracy advocates, elected lawmakers, unionists, academics, and district councilors.
Two were found not guilty during the trial. The remaining 45 individuals received sentences ranging from four to ten years.
The four opposition members who were released on Tuesday had been in custody since March 2021 and received the lightest punishment among those convicted.
What is Hong Kong’s national security law?
The arrests occurred after Beijing implemented a national security law in 2020 in response to massive pro-democracy protests in the financial center.
Under this law, Hong Kong democrats were accused of plotting to overthrow state authority through a multi-step plan. The group organized a primary election in 2020 to gain a majority in the legislature and rejected the government budget.
Western governments and rights groups have denounced the punishments. The United States regarded the penalties as “unjust,” and the United Nations Human Rights Office also conveyed grave concerns.
Beijing and Hong Kong, however, argue that everyone is treated equally under the national security laws and maintain that the democrats had a fair trial.
In April, Hong Kong authorities arrested 322 people for national security offenses and convicted 163 of them under the national security law.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/hong-kong-releases-4-jailed-opposition-members/a-72381535?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
