fredag 8. januar 2021

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong arrested under national security law

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was arrested Thursday over an alleged violation of the city's national security law, just a day after police arrested dozens of former lawmakers and opposition activists.

Wong was already in prison, serving a 13.5-month sentence for his role in demonstrations during the 2019 pro-democracy protest movement. On Thursday, a post published on Wong's verified Facebook page said he had been transferred from prison to a detention center, where police officers questioned him. An assistant who has been managing Wong's social media accounts confirmed his arrest to CNN.

The post alleged that Wong's lawyer had not been able to reach him when police took statements. CNN has reached out to the Hong Kong police for comment. The arrest of Wong is the latest to have occurred under the auspices of Beijing's new national security law, which on Wednesday saw police arrest 53 in dawn raids on democracy activists across the city.