A Hong Kong court has handed prison sentences to 45 democracy advocates in the city's largest trial under the 2020 national security law, with rights groups condemning the verdict.
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00:0045 activists from Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement were sentenced to prison on Tuesday
00:08in the biggest case under the Beijing-imposed 2020 national security law, which widely criminalizes
00:14dissent.
00:15The activists were among the prominent Hong Kong 47 arrested in 2021 for their involvement
00:21in an unofficial pre-election primary vote that drew record turnout.
00:27Activists accused them of planning to paralyze Hong Kong's government by using a legislative
00:32majority to block government budgets indiscriminately.
00:37Hundreds of people stood in line in rain and winds for a seat in courts to show their support
00:41for the activists.
00:44Of course it will silence more people because you see how a primary can be illegal and lead
00:53to 10 years of sentencing so of course it will silence more people.
00:59Human rights organizations have criticized the sentencing for undermining Hong Kong's
01:03civil liberties and judicial independence.