The Chinese regime imposed 12 months in jail for a Hong Kong press mogul for protests for democracy in 2019

The Hong Kong press mogul, Jimmy Lai, was sentenced this Friday to twelve months in prison for his role in organizing in 2019 one of the largest demonstrations in favor of democracy.

It is the first time that Lai, 73, currently in temporary detention after being detained for violating China’s national security law, has been convicted of his activism.

Eight Hong Kong opposition leaders were awaiting a court sentence on Friday for organizing one of the largest protests for democracy that shook the Chinese territory in 2019.

Among the nine are some of the most respected figures in the fight for freedoms in the former British colony.

China’s regime is carrying out a relentless crackdown after the huge protests of 2019.

Supporters, family members, journalists and diplomats representing the European Union, the United States, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Germany and France were present at the hearing.

Among the defendants is attorney Martin Lee, 82, who before the retrocession of 1997 was chosen by Beijing to draft the Basic Law that serves as the mini-constitution of the semi-autonomous region.

There are also former opposition MP and lawyer Margaret Ng, 73, and media mogul Jimmy Lai, 73.

The latter two are in pre-trial detention on separate charges under the harsh National Security Law that Beijing imposed in June.

Among the other defendants are figures from the Labor Party or the Civil Human Rights Front (FCDH), the coalition that organized the biggest protests of 2019.

They are accused of organizing one of the largest pro-democracy protests recorded that year, on August 18, 2019.

Organizers then reported 1.7 million protesters, that is, almost one in four Hong Kongers, a figure that could not be independently verified.

Five of the defendants, who had previously pleaded guilty, presented their defense on Friday morning.

Pro-democracy activists hold banners in support of fellow activists arrested outside the West Kowloon Courthouse in Hong Kong, China, March 1, 2021. Police have charged 47 pro-democracy activists with conspiracy to subvert the powers of the state under the National Security Law. The group of detainees comprises the majority of the 55 people arrested in January 2021 under the national security law.

“There is no right so precious to Hong Kongers as freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly.”Said attorney Margaret Ng, who stands up for herself.

She said she was willing to stand up for those who “as a last resort had to collectively express their anguish and urge the government to respond.” His speech was greeted with applause.

Judge Amanda Woodcock stated a little earlier that the rally seriously disturbed traffic and that the fact that it was peaceful could not be an excuse.

The court’s decision is expected on Friday.

With information from AFP.