Hong Kong: Christian Pastor the first clergy to be imprisoned under new security laws

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A Christian pastor became the first member of the clergy in Hong Kong to be sentenced to prison for sedition under harsh new national security laws brought in by the Chinese Communist Party two years ago, UCA News reports.

Pastor Garry Pang Moon-yuen was sentenced to 10 months for sedition and three months for seditious speech by the West Kowloon Court on October 27, UCA said.

Pang was first arrested on January 4 for comments he made about Chinese human rights violations on YouTube live streams during the trial of activist Chow Hang-tung, UCA reports.

At one point, he criticized trial magistrate Amy Chan for “threatening to silence” people when she removed members of the public who had clapped during Chow Hang-tung’s trial.

During his own trial on September 15, Pang stated: “What’s going on in the court right now is not only a legal battle over sedition but also a battle to defend human rights and freedoms, a battle of safeguarding conscience.”

Nevertheless, Pang was convicted of knowingly and intentionally making remarks that were seditious, bringing hatred and contempt against the administration of justice, UCA said.

Accepting the prison term handed to him, Pang said that he had nevertheless been “victorious” because he had succeeded in “safeguarding conscience, defending freedoms, human rights, and rule of law,” UCA reports. Pang added that “history would acquit him” in time.

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