“Peaceful human rights defense is not a crime,” emphasized the foreign ministries of France and Germany, referring to Chow Hang-tung, who was awarded the France and Germany Human Rights Prize in 2023.
Read more Donald Trump announced a temporary tariff relief on ground beef imports
The 41-year-old activist was sentenced along with another activist, 69-year-old Lee Cheuk-yan.
“Together with other activists (…) Chow Hang-tung tirelessly worked to promote human rights and democracy in China, and especially” in Hong Kong, their joint statement says.
“We urge her immediate release and strongly call on the authorities in Beijing and Hong Kong to respect all civil rights and freedoms,” the statement reads.
Charges against Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung under the Beijing-imposed national security law were brought in 2021 and they have been held behind bars since then.
Read more ESO announces preparation for a severe storm: mobilizes twice as many forces
The sentence for the activists – who face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment – will be announced later.
Meanwhile, the EU warned that this verdict “confirms that the situation of freedom of speech and assembly in Hong Kong continues to deteriorate, and the space for an independent civil society is further shrinking.”
In a statement released by EU spokesperson Anitta Hipper, it is said that “politically motivated criminal prosecution (…) undermines trust in the rule of law principles” in Hong Kong.
The EU urged the authorities “to preserve space for an independent civil society, ensure freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly, as guaranteed in the Basic Law” – Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, which has governed the former British colony since it was handed over to China.
Read more LRT – prosecutors’ message: no longer require revealing the source, but that’s not the end of it
