The United States has strongly condemned recent actions by the Hong Kong government, which include issuing arrest warrants and bounties for six overseas pro-democracy activists and revoking the passports of seven others, some of whom reside in the United States.
In a statement released Thursday, the U.S. State Department denounced these measures as attempts to intimidate and silence individuals who have sought refuge in the United States. The department reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of those targeted for exercising their fundamental freedoms.
“The extraterritorial application of Hong Kong’s national security laws constitutes transnational repression, threatening U.S. sovereignty and undermining human rights worldwide,” the statement declared.
Critics have characterized the Hong Kong government’s actions as part of a broader campaign to suppress dissent. The State Department underscored that such measures flout international norms and violate basic freedoms, including the rights to free expression and peaceful assembly.
The U.S. urged Hong Kong authorities to cease using national security laws to target activists and reiterated its unwavering support for pro-democracy advocates facing persecution around the globe.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
