Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 years in prison in national security case
Wong, 30, has been imprisoned since 2020 and is the only activist in Hong Kong prosecuted twice under national security law
TL;DR
- Joshua Wong received a 10-year prison sentence for pleading guilty to "foreign collusion."
- The conviction is under Hong Kong's national security law, which critics argue is used to suppress opposition.
- Wong was accused of working with exiled activist Nathan Law to urge foreign powers to impose sanctions.
- The judge stated Wong sought foreign interference and continued to promote sanctions via social media.
- This sentence will be served concurrently with Wong's existing sentence for conspiracy to commit subversion.
- Human rights groups and allies criticized the sentencing as a tool to punish dissent.
- Wong is already serving a sentence of over four years for his role in an unofficial primary election.
- Wong gained prominence during the 2014 pro-democracy Umbrella protests.