A Hong Kong court on Friday convicted two organizers of annual vigils for those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown of inciting subversion, under a national security law enacted by Beijing in 2020 to suppress the pro-democracy movement in the former British colony.
The verdict was delivered after a trial that drew widespread attention both locally and internationally. The two defendants, whose names have not been disclosed in official statements, were found guilty of coordinating the yearly candlelight vigils held in Hong Kong to commemorate the victims of the June 4, 1989 crackdown.
The national security law, introduced in 2020, covers offenses including secession, subversion, terrorist activities, and collusion with foreign or external forces. Since its implementation, dozens of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have been arrested or tried under its provisions.
Legal experts say the conviction marks another significant application of the security legislation against public commemorations deemed politically sensitive in the city. The defendants are expected to face sentencing at a later date, with the charge of inciting subversion carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Human rights groups have criticized the law as a tool to stifle dissent in Hong Kong, while Chinese authorities argue it is essential to safeguard national security and stability in the region.
