HONG KONG ACTIVIST NATHAN LAW SAYS HE WAS DENIED ENTRY TO SINGAPORE
Singapore - Hong Kong activist Nathan Law said he was detained and later deported from Singapore after arriving in the city-state with a valid visa on September 23. Law, a former lawmaker who fled China's crackdown on Hong Kong in 2020, claimed he was denied entry despite having a legitimate reason to visit.
According to Law, he was detained at the border for four hours before being informed that his visa had been revoked. He was then deported to the United States, where he has been living since leaving Hong Kong.
"I was shocked and disappointed by the decision," Law said in an interview. "I had a valid visa and had informed the Singapore authorities of my intention to visit. I don't understand why they would deny me entry."
The Singapore government has not commented on the incident, but a spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs said that the country's immigration laws are strict and apply equally to all visitors.
"Nathan Law is a wanted individual in Hong Kong under the national security law," the spokesperson said. "We take our obligations under international law seriously and will not compromise on our immigration policies."
Law, who has been critical of China's human rights record, has been living in exile since 2020. He was a key figure in the pro-democracy movement that swept through Hong Kong in 2019, but fled to the UK after being targeted by Chinese authorities.
The incident has sparked concerns among human rights groups and activists about Singapore's treatment of dissidents and critics of China's government. "This is a clear case of Singapore's complicity with China's efforts to silence its critics," said Maya Wang, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.
However, some analysts argue that Singapore's actions may be driven by concerns about national security rather than politics. "Singapore has a reputation for being tough on immigration and national security," said Dr. Tan See Seng, a professor of international relations at the Nanyang Technological University. "It's possible that they saw Law as a potential threat to their national security."
Law's deportation comes amid growing tensions between Singapore and China over issues such as trade and investment. The incident has also raised questions about the treatment of dissidents and critics of China's government in Southeast Asia.
The incident is currently under investigation, but it remains unclear what will happen next. Law has vowed to continue speaking out against human rights abuses in Hong Kong and China, despite the risks.
"I will not be silenced," he said. "I will continue to speak truth to power and fight for justice and democracy."
*Reporting by Aljazeera.*
