HONG KONG JUDGE FINDS FIVE GUILTY OVER CHILDREN'S BOOK

  • 07/09/2022

Five speech therapists were found guilty of publishing seditious children's books by a Hong Kong judge.

Authorities believed that their books, which are about sheep attempting to keep wolves out of their village, contained an overtly political message.

A national security judge chosen by the government ruled after a two-month trial that their "seditious intention" was obvious.

Since China implemented a new national security law in 2020, there has been a crackdown on civil liberties. 

Beijing has said the law is needed to bring stability to the city, but critics say it is designed to squash dissent.

The law makes it easier to prosecute protesters and reduces the city's overall autonomy, while also increasing Beijing's influence over political and legal decision-making in the city.

The group of five speech therapists, who were founding members of a union, produced cartoon e-books that some interpreted as trying to explain Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement to children.

In one of the three books a village of sheep fight back against a group of wolves who are trying to take over their settlement.

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