Hong Kong pro-democracy and LGBTQ+ activist Jimmy Sham was released from prison on Friday after serving over four years in the city’s biggest national security case under a Beijing-imposed law.
Sham, who organized some of the largest peaceful protests in 2019, including one with an estimated 2 million people, was arrested in 2021 along with 46 other activists. He was sentenced to prison last year for his role in an unofficial primary election, which judges ruled would undermine the government’s authority.
Despite being imprisoned, Sham continued to fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and in 2020, a court ruling recognized same-sex marriage registered overseas, a landmark decision for Hong Kong’s LGBTQ+ community.
Sham expressed mixed emotions about his release, stating that he feels happy but also knows many people are suffering. He said he has no plans to leave Hong Kong and is unsure whether he is truly free.
The release of Sham and three other activists marks the second batch of pro-democracy advocates to be reunited with their families after serving time in prison. Critics argue that the national security law has effectively crushed the city’s pro-democracy movement, while Beijing and Hong Kong governments claim it brought back stability.
Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang stated that those who were jailed for national security offenses enjoy freedoms like freedom of expression, despite being convicted.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-sham-prison-democracy-lgbtq-f5163025625a9bb41cf2fbe9c90022b7