International Tibet Network strongly condemns the sentencing of 45 pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.

On Tuesday 19 November, 45 Hong Konger Democrats received prison sentences of up to 10 years on baseless ‘national security’ charges that further expose the deteriorating human rights situation in Hong Kong.

The longest sentence was ten years for ex-University of Hong Kong law professor Benny Tai, and journalist-turned-activist Gwyneth Ho was jailed for seven years.

International Tibet Network calls on the Hong Kong government to immediately quash these convictions and release all of those convicted.

The verdict is a clear demonstration of how the authoritarian government is using the National Security Law to suppress civil society and restrict basic freedoms.

We also urge the international community to take concrete actions to protect political dissidents and activists, including providing asylum for Hong Kongers in exile. International organisations, institutions, and governments need to publicly and formally take a strong stance against the sentences, call for an immediate release of the political prisoners, and hold the Hong Kong government accountable for its blatant disregard for fundamental human rights.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s crackdowns against freedom, democracy, and human rights has intensified across China, and we have witnessed a gross increase on the assault on communities living under its rule.

• Occupied Tibet is one of the least free places in the world
• Cultural and ethnic genocide is being committed against Uyghurs in occupied East Turkistan
• Southern Mongolians face the erasure of their history, culture, and language
• Hong Kongers have lost their fundamental freedoms and now live under totalitarian rule
• Taiwan faces the threat of violent invasion and continues to be bullied in the geopolitical stage
• Chinese feminists, lawyers, LGBTQ individuals, other marginalised groups, and activists face the threat of detention and disappearance