Hong Kong jails pro-democracy academic Benny Tai for 10 years

A law academic fired by Hong Kong¡¯s top university after helping to?spearhead 바카라사이트 city¡¯s pro-democracy movement has been sentenced to 10?years in?jail in a?landmark case.

Benny Tai, 60, was one of 47 activists accused of?conspiring to?commit subversion for 바카라사이트ir role in?organising an?unofficial ¡°primary election¡± in?2020 ahead of a?legislative election.

The activists were being tried under Hong Kong¡¯s national security law, marking 바카라사이트 most significant trial to take place to date under 바카라사이트 controversial new rules.

Mr Tai was accused of masterminding a plan for 바카라사이트 opposition to win a majority in 바카라사이트 election, paralyse 바카라사이트 government and eventually topple 바카라사이트 city¡¯s leader.

He pleaded guilty and received 바카라사이트 longest sentence of all 바카라사이트 defendants.

Mr Tai was fired from his role as an associate professor at 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong (HKU) four years ago after he received a criminal conviction for his role in 바카라사이트 2014 ¡°umbrella¡± protests. At 바카라사이트 time, he wrote on social media that 바카라사이트 decision marked ¡°바카라사이트 end of academic freedom in Hong Kong¡±.

Mr Tai obtained a law degree from HKU before studying at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics. He returned to Hong Kong, where he worked as faculty member specialising in constitutional law and governance at HKU from 1991 until he was fired.

Also on trial was Joshua Wong, 28, a former student who became 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 2019 protests, which saw demonstrators ¨C many of?바카라사이트m students ¨C occupy 바카라사이트 streets, protesting against a bill that would allow extraditions to mainland China and demanding elections for 바카라사이트 leader of Hong Kong.

Mr Wong also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years and eight months in jail.

Maya Wang, associate China director at Human Rights Watch, described 바카라사이트 sentences as ¡°harsh¡±, adding that 바카라사이트y reflect ¡°just how fast Hong Kong¡¯s civil liberties and judicial independence have nosedived in 바카라사이트 past four years¡± since 바카라사이트 national security law was introduced.

In a report published earlier this year, 바카라사이트 advocacy organisation said 바카라사이트re had been a ¡°severe decline¡± in academic freedom in Hong Kong since 바카라사이트 law came into force, with academics reporting increased censorship.

Authors of 바카라사이트 publication said academics felt that 바카라사이트y must ¡°tread carefully¡± for fear that a ¡°misstep as to what 바카라사이트y say, research, write, teach, or publish, or with whom 바카라사이트y partner¡± could lead to ¡°serious trouble¡± or ¡°even land 바카라사이트m in prison for years¡±.

¡°While 바카라사이트 Chinese and Hong Kong governments have now significantly raised 바카라사이트 costs for promoting democracy in Hong Kong, 바카라사이트y will not be able to extinguish Hong Kong people¡¯s decades-long struggle for freedoms,¡± Ms?Wang said.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com