Hong Kong Speech Therapists Jailed for Children’s Books: Absurd Conviction

In a shocking turn of events, five speech therapists in Hong Kong have been convicted of “sedition” for publishing illustrated children’s books that depicted mass protests and other occurrences in the city. Amnesty International has condemned this verdict as a clear example of the ongoing suppression of freedoms in Hong Kong.

The China campaigner at Amnesty International, Gwen Lee, expressed dismay over the situation, highlighting the absurdity of facing imprisonment for creating children’s books featuring harmless imagery like wolves and sheep. Lee emphasized that crafting educational materials for children should never be considered a criminal offense, nor should it be misconstrued as an attempt to instigate rebellion.

The resurgence of archaic sedition laws, a practice not seen since 1967, to target activists, journalists, and writers has been deemed a repressive tactic by the Hong Kong authorities. The recent application of these laws to silence voices and curb freedom of expression has sparked concerns over the erosion of fundamental rights in the city.

The group of speech therapists, including two men and three women associated with the General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists, now faces the prospect of up to two years in jail following their conviction. The union’s registration was revoked in 2021, with allegations of unlawful activities cited as the reason.

The books in question, such as “The Guardians of Sheep Village” and “The Garbage Collectors of Sheep Village,” portrayed Hong Kong residents as sheep and mainland Chinese authorities as wolves. Despite being aimed at children aged four to seven, these illustrations were deemed to have a “seditious intent” and accused of inciting violence by the national security police.

Since the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020, alongside colonial-era sedition charges, dissenting voices in Hong Kong have faced severe crackdowns. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has raised alarms over the misuse of sedition charges to suppress freedom of expression and has called for their repeal.

The right to freedom of expression, a fundamental human right under international law, encompasses the sharing of diverse viewpoints, even those that may be considered controversial or offensive. The continued targeting of individuals for expressing dissenting opinions through the manipulation of outdated laws raises serious concerns about the state of democracy and civil liberties in Hong Kong.

As the five speech therapists await sentencing, calls for their immediate release and the abolition of oppressive laws have gained momentum. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, advocating for the protection of human rights and the preservation of free speech in Hong Kong.