A Hong Kong activist, Koo Sze-yiu, 78, battling terminal cancer, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for attempted sedition. His charges, as per an AFP report, stem from plans to protest against China's political crackdown using a prop coffin.&nbsp;

Even as the sentence was passed, a defiant Koo&nbsp;told the court he wanted to be a "martyr for democracy and human rights" before being led away, reported&nbsp;the local media.

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Koo is one of the few vocal government critics still remaining in Hong Kong after Beijing "crushed" the&nbsp;democracy protests nearly five years ago.

This is the second time he has been hit with sedition charges.

<h2>The protest</h2>

As per the report citing prosecutors, the protest Koo planned last December was against local elections that excluded pro-democracy candidates.&nbsp;

He was arrested by national security police on December 8, just hours before the scheduled demonstration.&nbsp; 
The court ruled that the prop coffin symbolised overthrowing the central government and would have encouraged the public to reject election results and resist.

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It "symbolised death... (and) overthrowing the central government," they said.

<h2>Sedition charges</h2>

This is not the first time Koo has faced such charges. In 2022, he was jailed for nine months for attempting sedition over plans to protest Beijing's hosting of the Winter Olympics.&nbsp;

Sedition, a colonial-era offence, was revived by Hong Kong authorities in 2020 and has been used to target many government critics, including those expressing dissent on social media.

As per reports, Hong Kong is also considering a new national security law that would broaden the scope of "sedition" to protect more Chinese and Hong Kong state institutions. This homegrown legislation, if passed, would add to the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 to quell dissent. As of mid-January&nbsp;2024, close to 291 people have been arrested for national security-related offences in Hong Kong, reported AFP.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Hong Kong activist, Koo Sze-yiu, 78, battling terminal cancer, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for attempted sedition. His charges, as per an AFP report, stem from plans to protest against China's political crackdown using a prop coffin.

A Hong Kong activist, Koo Sze-yiu, 78, battling terminal cancer, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for attempted sedition. His charges, as per an AFP report, stem from plans to protest against China's political crackdown using a prop coffin. Even as the sentence was passed, a defiant Koo told the court he wanted to be a "martyr for democracy and human rights" before being led away, reported the local media. Also read | US: Pricey homes on California clifftop get closer to edge following landslide Koo is one of the few vocal government critics still remaining in Hong Kong after Beijing "crushed" the democracy protests nearly five years ago. This is the second time he has been hit with sedition charges. The protest As per the report citing prosecutors, the protest Koo planned last December was against local elections that excluded pro-democracy candidates. He was arrested by national security police on December 8, just hours before the scheduled demonstration. The court ruled that the prop coffin symbolised overthrowing the central government and would have encouraged the public to reject election results and resist. Also read | US conducts cyberattack against Iranian ‘spy’ ship to deter Houthi attacks in Red Sea It "symbolised death... (and) overthrowing the central government," they said. Sedition charges This is not the first time Koo has faced such charges. In 2022, he was jailed for nine months for attempting sedition over plans to protest Beijing's hosting of the Winter Olympics. Sedition, a colonial-era offence, was revived by Hong Kong authorities in 2020 and has been used to target many government critics, including those expressing dissent on social media. As per reports, Hong Kong is also considering a new national security law that would broaden the scope of "sedition" to protect more Chinese and Hong Kong state institutions. This homegrown legislation, if passed, would add to the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 to quell dissent. As of mid-January 2024, close to 291 people have been arrested for national security-related offences in Hong Kong, reported AFP. (With inputs from agencies)

Terminally ill Hong Kong activist sentenced to prison again over prop coffin protest

In Hong Kong, two men have been arrested for possession of children's books that have previously been labelled seditious. While there was an crackdown earlier on the publishing of the said picture books, this is believed to be the first case of arrest over their mere possession. The books, part of a series titled 'Yangcun', tell the story of a sheep village facing the threat of invasion at the hands of wolves.

The arrest of two men, aged 38 and 50, was reportedly carried out on March 13. Their homes and offices were searched by police and customs officers.

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<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-judge-finds-5-speech-therapists-guilty-over-childrens-books-513915/embed" width="560"></iframe>

According to a Guardian report, a police press release cited by the local media claims that copies of the "seditious publications" that allegedly "incited hatred or contempt" against the Chinese and Hong Kong governments and the judiciary were found with them.

Since then, they have been released on bail, but have been told to report to the police next month.

Human Rights Watch has described the arrests as shameful and alleged that the government is using its colonial-era law to clamp down on dissent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-speech-therapists-sentenced-to-19-months-in-prison-514849">Hong Kong speech therapists sentenced to 19 months in prison for publishing 'seditious' books</a> 
&nbsp;

<h2>What makes these books seditious?</h2>

Authorities in Hong Kong have interpreted the characters as a dig at the government with the sheep allegedly referring to Hong Kongers and the wolves to China's government.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-speech-therapists-convicted-over-publishing-of-seditious-books-that-make-kids-hate-beijing-513845">Hong Kong speech therapists convicted for publishing 'seditious' books that make kids hate Beijing</a>

<h2>What happened earlier?</h2>

Last year, in a high-profile case over the same "seditious' Yangcun books, five speech therapists were jailed for publishing the books. They were sentenced to 19 months in prison.

In January of this year, a 24-year-old student was arrested for sedition for posting download links of the said children's books on Facebook. As per local Hong Kong news outlet Mingpao, the post was accompanied by "inflammatory statements."

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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In Hong Kong, two men have been arrested for possession of children's books that have previously been labelled seditious. While there was an crackdown earlier on the publishing of the said picture books, this is believed to be the first case of arrest over their mere possession.

In Hong Kong, two men have been arrested for possession of children's books that have previously been labelled seditious. While there was an crackdown earlier on the publishing of the said picture books, this is believed to be the first case of arrest over their mere possession. The books, part of a series titled 'Yangcun', tell the story of a sheep village facing the threat of invasion at the hands of wolves. The arrest of two men, aged 38 and 50, was reportedly carried out on March 13. Their homes and offices were searched by police and customs officers. Watch | Hong Kong judge finds 5 speech therapists guilty over children's books According to a Guardian report, a police press release cited by the local media claims that copies of the "seditious publications" that allegedly "incited hatred or contempt" against the Chinese and Hong Kong governments and the judiciary were found with them. Since then, they have been released on bail, but have been told to report to the police next month. Human Rights Watch has described the arrests as shameful and alleged that the government is using its colonial-era law to clamp down on dissent. Also read | Hong Kong speech therapists sentenced to 19 months in prison for publishing 'seditious' books What makes these books seditious? Authorities in Hong Kong have interpreted the characters as a dig at the government with the sheep allegedly referring to Hong Kongers and the wolves to China's government. Also read | Hong Kong speech therapists convicted for publishing 'seditious' books that make kids hate Beijing What happened earlier? Last year, in a high-profile case over the same "seditious' Yangcun books, five speech therapists were jailed for publishing the books. They were sentenced to 19 months in prison. In January of this year, a 24-year-old student was arrested for sedition for posting download links of the said children's books on Facebook. As per local Hong Kong news outlet Mingpao, the post was accompanied by "inflammatory statements." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Hong Kong: Two men arrested for possessing ‘seditious’ children’s picture books

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Terminally ill Hong Kong activist sentenced to prison again over prop coffin protest

Hong Kong: Two men arrested for possessing ‘seditious’ children’s picture books