‘Freedom of expression should not be a crime’: US calls for release of Hong Kong democracy campaigners
- Dozens of Hong Kong dissidents were charged with subversion on Sunday
- This is the largest use yet of China's national security law
- US Secretary of State Antthony Blinken said that US stands with the people of Hong Kong
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday condemned the detention of Hong Kong dissidents under China’s new national security law. Blinken also demanded the immediate release of the protesters. “We condemn the detention of and charges filed against pan-democratic candidates in Hong Kong’s elections and call for their immediate release,” Blinken tweeted.
Blinken asserted that political participation and freedom of expression should not be crimes. He added that US stands with the people of Hong Kong.
Dozens of Hong Kong dissidents were charged with subversion on Sunday in the largest use yet of the national security law. Police arrested 55 of the city’s best-known pro-democracy campaigners in a series of dawn raids last month.
Also read: China urges US to lift trade restrictions, stop interfering in Hong Kong
On Sunday, 47 were charged with one count each of “conspiracy to commit subversion” — one of the new national security crimes — with police saying the group would appear in court on Monday morning.
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