A Hong Kong court has sentenced pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison after a high-profile national security trial. The decision has quickly become the center of international conversation, as it is considered a landmark case with profound implications for press freedom in the city.
Jimmy Lai, 78 years old and founder of Apple Daily, was found guilty of two counts of foreign collusion and one count of seditious publication under the national security law implemented in 2020. According to the court, the gravity of these charges formed the basis for a total sentence of 20 years, of which 18 years will be added to his current sentence.
As the verdict was read, Lai remained calm inside the courtroom and quietly said goodbye to his family and supporters. He has been in custody since 2020, and continues to monitor his health due to his age, according to authorities.
Human rights groups and several international leaders strongly condemned the verdict, calling it a strong signal of the erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong. For them, this case is not just against an individual but against free press itself.
On the government side, officials insisted that the case had nothing to do with freedom of speech, and was simply a matter of law enforcement. However, the world continues to monitor the situation, as the verdict of Jimmy Lai becomes a symbol of the changing climate of media and democracy in Hong Kong.
