Christian pro-democracy activist sentenced to ten years in prison

30-year-old pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was sentenced to ten years in prison for collusion with foreign entities on 5 November. The sentencing marks his second conviction under Hong Kong’s controversial National Security Law and follows Mr Wong’s submission of a guilty plea on 2 September.

Mr Wong, a Christian, became involved in activism at the age of 14 when he formed a group to protest the implementation of patriotic education in Hong Kong in 2011. He was also an influential figure during the 2014 Umbrella Movement, which protested electoral reforms which would have allowed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to screen candidates for key government positions in Hong Kong.

He was first arrested on 24 September 2020 on charges of participating in an ‘unauthorised assembly’ over his role in anti-extradition protests in 2019, in which he sang what became the protest anthem ‘Sing Hallelujah to the Lord’. He pleaded guilty on 23 November 2020 and was sentenced to one year and one month in prison

In February 2021 he was further charged along with over 40 others with conspiracy to commit subversion and was sentenced to an additional four years and eight months.

Mr Wong is currently being held in Stanley Prison. From his letters to friends, he is believed to have access to passages from the Bible.

As of 1 August 2026, 415 people have been pro- or retroactively arrested in cases which ‘endanger national security’ under the National Security Law introduced in 2020. The number includes Catholic pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, a British citizen who was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment on 9 February 2026 at age 78, which amounts to a life sentence. Mr Lai is thought to be suffering from several health problems including heart, dental and mobility concerns which have developed since his most recent imprisonment in addition to his preexisting diabetes diagnosis.

The CCP has cracked down extensively on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, in Hong Kong in recent years, with the UK-based human rights organisation Hong Kong Watch warning that such efforts act as a deterrent to further protests and have created an atmosphere of ‘widespread self-censorship in sermons and other religious activities, threats to faith-based schools, and the increasing introduction of Beijing’s campaign of ‘Sinicization’ of religion’.

CEO Scot Bower said: ‘CSW is deeply concerned by today’s sentencing of a young pro-democracy activist whose Christian faith has consistently inspired him to speak out for justice and freedom from repression for the people of Hong Kong. While Joshua Wong will spend his 30s behind bars, we affirm that no one should have to face imprisonment for standing up to government repression of religion, belief and free expression. We call on the Chinese government to unconditionally release Joshua Wong, Jimmy Lai and all protesters detained or imprisoned under the draconian National Security Law.’

Featured image 通过 Studio Incendo 遵循以下协议 CC BY 2.0.