Hong Kong activist Wong sentenced to 10 years in prison, criticism of the verdict

Joshua Wong, a pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong, has been sentenced to ten years in prison, the maximum penalty for his offense. Wong was already incarcerated since November 2020 and had previously been expected to be released in January 2023. He pleaded guilty to charges related to encouraging foreign sanctions against Hong Kong and China under the controversial national security law. Wong gained prominence as a leader in the pro-democracy movement, founding the student group Scholarism and participating in significant protests. His activism has drawn international attention, including a Netflix documentary about his life. Human Rights Watch and the Hong Kong Democracy Council condemned his sentencing, viewing it as an attempt to suppress political dissent and warning of the consequences of speaking out against the authorities.