Joshua Wong, one of the most recognizable faces of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of colluding with foreign forces. The ruling came under the territory’s national security law, a sweeping measure imposed by Beijing in 2020 after massive street protests against its growing grip on the city.
Wong, who turned 30 last month, had already spent six years behind bars and was due for release in January. Instead, he now faces another decade in custody, though about two months of the new sentence will overlap with time he’s already serving for a separate subversion conviction. He pleaded guilty to the latest charges in September.
Prosecutors said Wong, along with exiled activist Nathan Law, had pushed foreign governments to impose sanctions and trade restrictions on Beijing back in 2020. The two had co-founded Demosisto, a pro-democracy party that has since disbanded. Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, called the pair key culprits in undermining the city’s stability, while rights groups condemned the sentence as excessive and politically motivated.
Human Rights Watch described the verdict as “cruel and unjust,” warning that authorities are piling charges onto prominent activists to suppress dissent while avoiding international backlash. Critics argue the national security law has effectively silenced Hong Kong’s once-vibrant opposition, while officials insist it’s necessary to preserve order.
Want the full story? Read the original report on BBC News.
Source: Joshua Wong, face of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, jailed for 10 years (feeds.bbci.co.uk).
Image: jpbourque, BY-SA 2.0 (via Openverse).