Spotlights on Political Prisoners

 The number of political prisoners in China and Hong Kong has grown significantly in recent years. In Hong Kong, following the 2020 enactment of the National Security Law imposed by Beijing, authorities have arrested hundreds of activists, politicians, journalists, and others – many of whom remain in custody or are facing long prison sentences under vague charges like “subversion” or “collusion with foreign forces”. On the mainland, the government has escalated its longstanding crackdown on dissent under the leadership of Xi Jinping, targeting lawyers, ethnic and religious minorities, journalists, activists, and other critics of the Communist Party. In Xinjiang, over a million Uyghurs have been detained and subjected to ‘reeducation’ programmes under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Trials in China are opaque, with limited access to legal representation and a conviction rate of over 99 percent. Many political prisoners are held incommunicado for extended periods while in custody. In both China and Hong Kong, they are often denied necessary medical treatment. Even after completing their sentences, they continue to be subject to strict surveillance and many are barred from leaving the country.