Hong Kong's 'Captain America' protester jailed for nearly 6 years under security law

"I do not feel any regret," Ma wrote in a letter to the choose, which he signed together with his nickname."On my road to democracy and freedom, I can't afford to be a coward," he stated within the letter, a part of which was learn out in courtroom earlier than he was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months in jail.The law punishes something China sees as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with international forces with as much as life in jail and has been extensively criticized as a software to purge political opponents and crush particular person freedoms.Beijing maintains rule of law, and all rights and freedoms stay intact and says the laws was wanted to plug loopholes in nationwide security and finish the often-violent unrest, which it says was fomented by international forces.Ma's conviction was the second under the law.In the primary, former waiter Tong Ying-kit, was jailed for 9 years. He had ridden a bike into a gaggle of policemen, displaying the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times," which the courtroom dominated was "capable of inciting secession".Tong, who was additionally convicted of terrorism for allegedly utilizing his bike as a weapon, is interesting.In Ma's case, the courtroom was proven movies of him chanting "Hong Kong Independence, the only way out". A pocket book titled "Captain America's Diary of Resistance" was additionally seized.Another protection lawyer, Edwin Choy, known as for lenience earlier than the sentencing, saying Ma's slogans and chants had been empty phrases with no nice affect. Ma didn't commit violent acts and was not somebody who would promote violence, Choy stated.More than 100 individuals, together with lots of the metropolis's most distinguished opposition politicians and activists, have been charged under the security law. Most have been denied bail.