A social worker named Jackie Chen has been found guilty of rioting due to her role in the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. According to Chen, she was attempting to reduce tensions between protesters and the police, but authorities accused her of provoking resistance.

The protests in 2019 initially began in response to a disputed extradition bill, later escalating into a broader pro-democracy movement. In 2020, Hong Kong introduced a sweeping national security law, resulting in mass arrests and prosecutions. Close to 3,000 individuals have been convicted in relation to the protests over the past five years.

Deputy District Judge May Chung ruled that Chen had shouted “provocative” words, implying police had used excessive force. She also mentioned that Chen’s actions bolstered the protesters’ confidence to resist the police. Rioting charges in Hong Kong can result in a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. After the verdict, Chen remained defiant and was remanded in custody until her sentencing on April 9.

Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/hong-kong-court-convicts-social-worker-guilty-of-rioting/a-71885143?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf