Pro-democracy publisher’s health fails in Hong Kong prison

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Pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai’s health is deteriorating rapidly in a Hong Kong prison, with his son warning that immediate intervention from the U.S. and Britain is crucial for his father’s survival.

The 77-year-old Apple Daily newspaper founder, who holds both British and Chinese citizenship, has been imprisoned since August 2020 under Beijing’s national security legislation. He entered a not guilty plea in January 2023 to accusations of collaborating with foreign powers and seditious activities.

The controversial law, enacted in June 2020, carries potential life sentences for activities that Beijing broadly categorizes as secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign collaboration.

https://twitter.com/TFASorg/status/189044657773659762

With his father entering his fourth year in solitary confinement – a practice condemned by U.N. experts – Sebastien Lai is appealing to global leaders, including President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for urgent assistance.

“His body is breaking down … It’s akin to torture,” Sebastien Lai told Reuters ahead of Tuesday’s Human Rights and Democracy summit in Geneva. “Time is running out for my father.”

The elder Lai suffers from diabetes.

Hong Kong authorities rejected Sebastien Lai’s statements, with a government spokesperson dismissing them as misleading and defamatory. Similarly, China’s permanent mission in Geneva labeled the health claims as “slanderous” and defended the legal proceedings against the tycoon.

Officials in Beijing and Hong Kong maintain that their security legislation, including Hong Kong’s own recently enacted law, addresses crucial security gaps and has restored stability.

While both American and British governments have criticized Lai’s prosecution as politically driven, Trump made a decisive campaign promise in October to secure Lai’s release.

“We are incredibly grateful that he said that. It gives us a lot of hope,” Sebastien Lai said.

He also called for more decisive action from Britain, arguing against normalizing diplomatic relations while citizens face arrest for supporting democratic values.

China jailed media mogul Jimmy Lai for publishing the truth about communist oppression. He could have left Hong Kong and lived a rich life, but he stayed.

“If we just surrender,” he says, “we will lose everything.”

On this July 4th, I think about Lai's bravery.@ActonInstitute pic.twitter.com/sXhCCA9R4D

— John Stossel (@JohnStossel) September 26, 2024

British officials confirmed that Lai’s situation remains a priority, noting Starmer’s discussion of the case with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November. The U.S. administration has yet to comment on the matter.

Lai’s international defense team views his case as part of a broader pattern of governments using legal systems to silence journalists. They’re urging world leaders at the upcoming U.N. Human Rights Council to confront Beijing and protect press freedom.

“How the world responds will send a vital message to authoritarians across the world,” said Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC of Doughty Street Chambers.

Hong Kong’s press freedom ranking has witnessed a dramatic decline, falling from 61st to 135th position among 180 countries over the past decade.