Hong Kong (AP) – Prominent democracy and LGBTQ+ advocate Jimmy Sham was released from prison on Friday after completing 4 years under the city’s largest national security case imposed by Beijing.
Sham’s activism gained attention during the 2019 anti-government protests, where he served as the convenor of a now-dissolved democratic group that organized some of the largest peaceful demonstrations that year, including one with an estimated turnout of 2 million people.
He was one of 47 activists arrested in 2021 for participating in an unofficial primary election. Last year, he and 44 other activists were declared guilty, with the judge ruling that their efforts to bring change through primary elections would undermine governmental authority and create a constitutional crisis. Only two of the former defendants managed to be acquitted.
Even while incarcerated, Sham continued to advocate for the recognition of same-sex marriage that had been registered overseas. The city’s highest court subsequently determined that the government is obliged to establish a framework for recognizing same-sex partnerships, marking a groundbreaking decision for the LGBTQ+ community in the city.
“I’m happy. Even with my freedom changing, I definitely feel freer than I did yesterday,” he told reporters on Friday after reuniting with his family. “But I also know that many people are suffering, which makes it hard for me to be too happy.”
When asked if the police had warned him against speaking to anyone, he mentioned self-censoring on certain sensitive topics. Sham expressed uncertainty regarding his status as a free man.
“Maybe tomorrow you’ll still see me free. Maybe tomorrow I’ll go back to prison. I don’t know,” he stated.
Activists have indicated that there are no plans to leave Hong Kong for now. “So I still need to reassess what I can and should do in the future and where the red line is.”
Sham and three other activists — Hey Lee, Roy Tam, and Henry Wong — who were released on Friday form the second group to reunite with their families, following the previous release of four democratic lawmakers last month. The year-long separation has tormented both the activists and their families.
The situation involved democracy advocates from across the entire spectrum. Notable examples include legal scholar Benny Tai, who received a 10-year sentence, and former student leader Joshua Wong, who is set to serve 4 years and 8 months.
Critics contend that the national security law has effectively stifled the pro-democracy movement in the city, while Beijing and the Hong Kong governments argue that it has restored stability.
During a press conference on Thursday, Hong Kong Security Secretary Chris Tan stated that those jailed and subsequently released for national security violations enjoy freedoms, including freedom of expression, similar to other residents. He asserted that their beliefs do not compromise certain aspects of their freedom.
Source: apnews.com