In the last episode of ‘Silenced’, Nicola speaks to Alex Chow, one of the most prominent leaders of Hong Kong’s Umbrella movement. Here he describes his involvement in the fight for democracy in Hong Kong, and the struggles he has endured in his personal life as a result.
In 2019, just before the coronavirus pandemic gripped the world and forced us indoors, some very different images began to emerge from Hong Kong: of tens of thousands of people, gathering in the streets to demand change.
The pro-democracy protests that erupted against a controversial extradition bill was preceded by the Umbrella Movement, when scores of people occupied main squares around the city, putting up umbrellas to protect themselves against the pepper spray police used to disperse the crowds. In both series of events, protesters were met with police brutality, arrests and prison sentences, and many were forced to flee and live in exile.
Alex Chow was one of the most prominent leaders of the Umbrella movement. Here he describes his involvement in the fight for democracy in Hong Kong, and the struggles he has endured in his personal life as a result.
Listen to previous episodes of ‘Silenced’
For the launch of ‘Silenced’, Nicola Kelly spoke to Richard Ratcliffe, campaigner and husband of British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in one of the last interviews before his wife’s release.
Episode 2: Ukrainian journalist Olga Tokariuk describes the threats facing journalists covering the invasion; efforts to ensure a free media space and get impartial information out to the world./
Episode 3: Nicola Kelly interviews Maria Baronova, until recently Editor of ‘RT’ (formerly ‘Russia Today’) about her years as a well-known opposition activist and the threats, intimidation and attacks she faced.
Episode 4: Nicola Kelly speaks to journalist Matthew Caruana Galizia about the day his mother Daphne was murdered, his fight for justice, and his determination to continue her work exposing corruption among some of Malta’s most powerful individuals.
Episode 5: Six months after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Iyad el-Baghdadi, a prominent writer and a friend of Khashoggi, was informed by the Norwegian Security services that there was a credible threat to his life. He describes what happened and how his life has changed since then.
‘Silenced’ is hosted by human rights journalist Nicola Kelly and produced by Christopher Hooton at Ziggurat Studio. Music is by Julian Wharton and sound design by Rick Morris.