Latest news with #prodemocracy
CNA
6 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Hong Kong activists' appeal ends, judgment due in nine months
HONG KONG: A hearing for 12 pro-democracy activists appealing their conviction and sentencing for subversion in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong ended on Thursday (Jul 17) with a judgment due within nine months. The case stems from the "47 democrats", dubbed by Hong Kong media for the number of activists arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion in 2021. Forty-five of the defendants were jailed last year for holding an unofficial primary election in 2020, soon after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in response to pro-democracy protests. Eleven are appealing their conviction and sentences, while one who pleaded guilty is challenging her sentence. Government prosecutor Andy Lo told the hearing on Thursday that the case involved "an unprecedented conspiracy", while defence lawyers said on Wednesday their clients had been denied a fair trial. Judge Jeremy Poon said a decision would be made within nine months. After that, it would still be possible to seek an appeal to Hong Kong's highest court. The 45 received prison terms of between four and 10 years after prosecutors said they sought to paralyse government and force the city's leader to resign by securing a legislative majority to indiscriminately veto budget proposals. "INTERVENTIONIST" TRIAL During this week's appeal hearing, defence lawyers argued on Wednesday that the three judges who presided over the original trial had frequently interrupted defendants during cross-examination. "The trial court was interventionist from very early on," said Robert Pang, a lawyer for unionist Winnie Yu. He said the court repeatedly disallowed questions on grounds of irrelevance. Lawyer Steven Kwan said his client, activist Owen Chow, did not receive a fair trial as "his evidence was disbelieved very early on" and judges posed 45 per cent of all the questions to him. But prosecutor Derek Lau said judges had that right, noting it was not a jury trial. "There is no unfairness that can be observed that is to the prejudice of the defender in these questions," he said. Lawyer Trevor Beel, representing activist Gwyneth Ho, said on Wednesday that legislators had a duty to use whatever legitimate means to negotiate with the government and that Hong Kong's mini-constitution or Basic Law allows for a budget not to be passed. Under Article 52 of the Basic Law, the chief executive must step down if the legislature twice rejects the government's budget. Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 with a promise of freedom and autonomy under the "one country, two systems" framework and an eventual democratic vote for the chief executive and the legislature. If Ho wanted to achieve dual universal suffrage and an effective legislature, then it "was not radical, and this is not against the principle of one country, two systems," Beel said.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Sudan, Remember Us' Trailer: Watermelon Pictures Sets August Release For Doc Paying Tribute To Youthful Pro-Democracy Activism
EXCLUSIVE: Watermelon Pictures has set an August 8 U.S. theatrical release for Hind Meddeb's timely documentary Sudan, Remember Me which has been on 10-month worldwide tour screening in scores of festivals. French-born journalist and filmmaker Meddeb, who is also of Moroccan, Tunisian and Algerian heritage, spent close to a decade documenting the youth-led, pro-democracy movements that swept Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan and Egypt in the 2010s. More from Deadline Watermelon Pictures Acquires U.S. Rights For Pakistani Animation 'The Glassworker' 'The Encampments' Documentary On Gaza War Protests At Columbia University Sets Milestone For New Indie Label - Specialty Box Office Watermelon Pictures Unveils Macklemore-Produced Doc 'The Encampments' Featuring Detained Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Sudan, Remember Us captures a jubilant moment of defiance among young Sudanese activists in Khartoum after the overthrowing of dictator Omar al-Basar dictatorship, and then chronicles the military crackdown that followed. Meddab orginanally traveled to Sudan in the immediate aftermath of the revolution in 2019 to capture a sit-in protest at the army headquarters in Khartoum as the Sudanese people demanded reform after decades of military dictatorship. There she met a selection of young activists that she would continue to film over the course of four years, from the swell of hope and accomplishment following al-Bashir's fall to the oppression of the military crackdown and subsequent civil war, which today, leaves Sudan in ruins. Along the way, she explores the resilience and sources of inspiration of the pro-democracy activists as well as the way in which poetry, music and art bolster their struggle. Since the outbreak of the civil war in the spring of 2023, more than 150,000 people have died and roughly a quarter of the 46M strong population has been displaced, Meddeb's documentary offers another window in the lives and hopes of the Sudanese people. World premiering in Venice's Giornate degli Autori parallel section last August, the film has since played at TIFF, Doc NYC, CPH DOX, San Francisco Film Festival among many other festivals. Sudan, Remember Us is produced by Abel Nahmias, Michel Zana, Alice Ormières, and Taoufik Guiga. With an accent on Palestinian culture and creativity Watermelon Pictures was launched in 2024 by brothers Hamza Ali and Badie Ali, with Alana Hadid as Creative Director. Recent releases included To A Land Unknown and The Encampments. [youtube Best of Deadline The Movies That Have Made More Than $1 Billion At The Global Box Office Everything We Know About 'Stranger Things' Season 5 So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery
CNA
6 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Hong Kong activists' appeal ends, judgement due in nine months
HONG KONG: A hearing for 12 pro-democracy activists appealing their conviction and sentencing for subversion in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong ended on Thursday (Jul 17) with a judgement due within nine months. The case stems from the "47 democrats", dubbed by Hong Kong media for the number of activists arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion in 2021. Forty-five of the defendants were jailed last year for holding an unofficial primary election in 2020, soon after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in response to pro-democracy protests. Eleven are appealing their conviction and sentences, while one who pleaded guilty is challenging her sentence. Government prosecutor Andy Lo told the hearing on Thursday that the case involved "an unprecedented conspiracy", while defence lawyers said on Wednesday their clients had been denied a fair trial. Judge Jeremy Poon said a decision would be made within nine months. After that, it would still be possible to seek an appeal to Hong Kong's highest court. The 45 received prison terms of between four and 10 years after prosecutors said they sought to paralyse government and force the city's leader to resign by securing a legislative majority to indiscriminately veto budget proposals. "INTERVENTIONIST" TRIAL During this week's appeal hearing, defence lawyers argued on Wednesday that the three judges who presided over the original trial had frequently interrupted defendants during cross-examination. "The trial court was interventionist from very early on," said Robert Pang, a lawyer for unionist Winnie Yu. He said the court repeatedly disallowed questions on grounds of irrelevance. Lawyer Steven Kwan said his client, activist Owen Chow, did not receive a fair trial as "his evidence was disbelieved very early on" and judges posed 45 per cent of all the questions to him. But prosecutor Derek Lau said judges had that right, noting it was not a jury trial. "There is no unfairness that can be observed that is to the prejudice of the defender in these questions," he said. Lawyer Trevor Beel, representing activist Gwyneth Ho, said on Wednesday that legislators had a duty to use whatever legitimate means to negotiate with the government and that Hong Kong's mini-constitution or Basic Law allows for a budget not to be passed. Under Article 52 of the Basic Law, the chief executive must step down if the legislature twice rejects the government's budget. Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 with a promise of freedom and autonomy under the "one country, two systems" framework and an eventual democratic vote for the chief executive and the legislature. If Ho wanted to achieve dual universal suffrage and an effective legislature, then it "was not radical, and this is not against the principle of one country, two systems," Beel said.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Hong Kong activists' appeal ends, judgement due in nine months
HONG KONG, July 17 (Reuters) - A hearing for 12 pro-democracy activists appealing their conviction and sentencing for subversion in Chinese-ruled Hong Kong ended on Thursday with a judgement due within nine months. The case stems from the "47 democrats", dubbed by Hong Kong media for the number of activists arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion in 2021. Forty-five of the defendants were jailed last year for holding an unofficial primary election in 2020, soon after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in response to pro-democracy protests. Eleven are appealing their conviction and sentences, while one who pleaded guilty is challenging her sentence. Government prosecutor Andy Lo told the hearing on Thursday that the case involved "an unprecedented conspiracy", while defence lawyers said on Wednesday their clients had been denied a fair trial. Judge Jeremy Poon said a decision would be made within nine months. After that, it would still be possible to seek an appeal to Hong Kong's highest court. The 45 received prison terms of between four and 10 years after prosecutors said they sought to paralyse government and force the city's leader to resign by securing a legislative majority to indiscriminately veto budget proposals. During this week's appeal hearing, defence lawyers argued on Wednesday that the three judges who presided over the original trial had frequently interrupted defendants during cross-examination. "The trial court was interventionist from very early on," said Robert Pang, a lawyer for unionist Winnie Yu. He said the court repeatedly disallowed questions on grounds of irrelevance. Lawyer Steven Kwan said his client, activist Owen Chow, did not receive a fair trial as "his evidence was disbelieved very early on" and judges posed 45% of all the questions to him. But prosecutor Derek Lau said judges had that right, noting it was not a jury trial. "There is no unfairness that can be observed that is to the prejudice of the defender in these questions," he said. Lawyer Trevor Beel, representing activist Gwyneth Ho, said on Wednesday that legislators had a duty to use whatever legitimate means to negotiate with the government and that Hong Kong's mini-constitution or Basic Law allows for a budget not to be passed. Under Article 52 of the Basic Law, the chief executive must step down if the legislature twice rejects the government's budget. Hong Kong was handed back to China by Britain in 1997 with a promise of freedom and autonomy under the "one country, two systems" framework and an eventual democratic vote for the chief executive and the legislature. If Ho wanted to achieve dual universal suffrage and an effective legislature, then it "was not radical, and this is not against the principle of one country, two systems," Beel said.
Free Malaysia Today
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
12 HK activists appeal convictions in landmark '47 democrats' case
A crackdown on dissent under a national security law has resulted in scores of arrests in Hong Kong. (AP pic) HONG KONG : Twelve Hong Kong pro-democracy activists appealed their subversion convictions and jail terms today in a national security case that has spotlighted Beijing's ongoing crackdown on dissent and drawn international criticism. The appeal stems from the '47 democrats' case, named for the number of activists who were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit subversion in 2021. The court eventually found 45 of the defendants guilty of organising and holding an unofficial primary election in July 2020 soon after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in response to pro-democracy protests the year before. Two defendants were acquitted. Prosecutors considered the action to be a plot to undermine the Hong Kong government. Security was tight around the West Kowloon law courts as scores of police officers, some with police dogs, patrolled the area and occasionally searched passers-by. 'They're not criminals,' said an elderly man surnamed Wong who was among around 100 people queuing to get a public ticket for the hearing. Foreign diplomats from over half a dozen countries were in attendance for this latest stage of the legal saga that began with dawn police raids on the homes of high-profile democrats in early 2021. Some rights groups and countries have condemned the case as politically motivated and called for the release of the democrats who were sentenced last November to prison terms of between four and 10 years. 'This appeal hearing is a chance for the courts to start righting the wrongs of this unprecedented mass prosecution,' said Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International's China director. Hong Kong and Chinese authorities have defended the independence of the judiciary, saying no one is above the law and the defendants have received a fair trial. The defendants were accused of attempting to establish unified pro-democracy candidates through the unofficial primary election to boost their chances of securing an unprecedented parliamentary majority. Prosecutors have said they intended to disrupt the government and even force Hong Kong's leader to resign by 'indiscriminately vetoing' budget proposals. Of the 16 democrats who pleaded not guilty during the trial, 11 have appealed their convictions, including Gordon Ng, Gwyneth Ho and Owen Chow, who were all jailed for over seven years. Prince Wong, who pleaded guilty, is appealing her sentence. The appeals are expected to take around 10 days, and also include a government request to overturn the acquittal of barrister Lawrence Lau. Erik Shum, a lawyer for two of the defendants, argued the democrats' actions were legal as lawmakers were free to vote against any bills and such votes 'could not possibly be an abuse of power'. A years-long crackdown under a China-imposed national security law has resulted in scores of arrests and the closures of liberal media outlets and civil society groups.
