Joshua Wong, a Hong Kong democracy activist who is only 30 years old, has lost nearly six years of his freedom since he was remanded in custody at the end of 2020.
Now he has been sentenced to ten years in prison for “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security” under Hong Kong’s National Security Law, and is not expected to regain his freedom until the end of 2036. A young man who once worked tirelessly for Hong Kong’s democracy and freedom will spend most of his youth and adult life in prison.
New School for Democracy believes that Joshua Wong’s case is not merely an individual court ruling. It shows how the National Security Law is used to suppress political dissent, and its far-reaching impact on civic participation, political expression and fundamental human rights. When peaceful advocacy and efforts to draw international attention to human rights can become grounds for charges carrying heavy sentences, Hong Kong’s freedom and rule of law are facing a severe test.
We must stress that national security should not be an unlimited licence to restrict citizens’ fundamental rights and suppress political dissent. No law should be applied at the expense of fundamental human rights and freedoms, still less should anyone pay with their liberty for peacefully expressing a different opinion.
New School for Democracy calls on the Hong Kong authorities to take the concerns of the international community seriously, to protect Joshua Wong’s fundamental human rights, legal rights and treatment in prison, and to stop suppressing democracy activists in the name of national security.
Standing with Joshua Wong is not only standing with one democracy activist; it is a defence of freedom, dignity, the rule of law and everyone’s fundamental right to express different opinions peacefully.
New School for Democracy will continue to follow the situation of Hong Kong’s political prisoners and human rights developments, and to speak out together with the international democratic community, so that the oppressed are not forgotten and voices seeking freedom are not silenced.