Five in Hong Kong jailed for distributing "seditious" books

Hong Kong: Five speech therapists in Hong Kong were jailed for sedition over providing children books with content about the democracy movement and "anti-China sentiment".

Judge Kwok Wai-kin said the therapists were trying to "brainwash" children and sow "the seeds of instability" in Hong Kong and China. Prosecutors argued that the books were aimed at "inciting readers' hatred against the mainland authorities", reported AFP.

The book series was created in 2020 to explain Hong Kong's democracy movement to children. They had illustrations portraying the city's democracy supporters as sheep defending their children from wolves. In another book, there were images of the wolves spreading disease among the sheep.

The professionals belong to a speech therapists' union. They were arrested a year ago and given a 19-month jail term. They could be released in 31 days after deduction for time served. Three of them spoke defiantly on Saturday's sentencing.

One of the therapists, Melody Yeung, said that she did not regret her actions and wanted to publish more books before getting arrested. She added that she always hopes to stand on the side of the sheep. Sidney Ng's lawyers said that his client thinks that the prosecution wants to intimidate civil society and alienate Hong Kongers.

Defendants maintained that the books were showing the history from the perspective of Hong Kong's people. "They were to help children understand the systemic injustice in society." Ng said these books were "recording courageous acts for a just cause."

The group of five is among the long list of Hong Kong residents who are jailed under the colonial-era sedition offence and national security law introduced by China in 2020 to suppress dissent.