Prominent Pro-Democracy Advocate Receives Harshest Sentence Under National Security Law
Hong Kong – Veteran media mogul and pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai, 78, was sentenced on February 9, 2026, to 20 years in prison by the Hong Kong High Court. The sentence, which follows his conviction on December 15, 2025, marks the harshest penalty handed down under the city's controversial National Security Law since its imposition in June 2020. Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was found guilty of two counts of 'conspiracy to commit collusion with foreign forces' and one count of 'conspiracy to publish seditious publications' under the Crimes Ordinance.
The court ruled that Lai was the 'mastermind and the driving force' behind the conspiracies, a factor cited for the lengthy prison term. His conviction and sentencing have been widely criticized by international bodies and governments as a significant assault on press freedom and human rights in Hong Kong.
Charges and Context of the National Security Law
Lai's charges stemmed from his alleged use of Apple Daily and his international connections to advocate for foreign governments to impose sanctions on China and Hong Kong. Prosecutors claimed that 161 Apple Daily articles, including 33 written by Lai, constituted seditious publications aimed at undermining the legitimacy of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments. The National Security Law, enacted by Beijing in June 2020, criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, and has been used to suppress dissent in the city.
Lai was first arrested in August 2020 under the new law, and Apple Daily was forced to close in June 2021 after its assets were frozen and several senior journalists were arrested. He has been in continuous detention since December 2020. In addition to Lai, six former Apple Daily executives and two activists who pleaded guilty to similar charges received sentences ranging from six years and three months to 10 years.
International Outcry and Local Defense
The sentencing has triggered a wave of condemnation from around the world. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called for Lai's immediate release, stating that he was punished for 'exercising rights protected under international law' and that the verdict violates international human rights law. Organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have denounced the sentence as a 'devastating blow to media freedom' and a 'cold-blooded attack on freedom of expression.'
Governments including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have also called for Lai's release. Lai's children, Claire and Sebastien Lai, described the sentence as 'heartbreakingly cruel' and 'draconian,' with Sebastien stating it 'signifies the total destruction of the Hong Kong legal system and the end of justice.'
Conversely, Hong Kong and Chinese authorities have defended the ruling, asserting that it upholds the rule of law. Hong Kong leader John Lee stated that Lai's 'heavy sentence of 20 years in prison demonstrated the rule of law, upheld justice and brought great satisfaction to the people.' China's Foreign Ministry maintained that Lai is a Chinese citizen and urged countries to respect its sovereignty.
Implications for Hong Kong's Future
The lengthy sentence for Jimmy Lai is seen by many as a stark indicator of the diminishing civil liberties and press freedoms in Hong Kong. Critics argue that the case exemplifies Beijing's determination to silence independent journalism and any form of dissent in the city, transforming it from a hub of free expression to one governed by fear. Given Lai's age and declining health, the 20-year term is effectively a life sentence, raising concerns that he may spend his remaining years in prison.
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