UK, UN, and EU Condemn Jimmy Lai’s 20-Year Sentence as ‘Monumental Injustice’

The sentencing of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and publisher Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison has drawn international condemnation from the United Kingdom, the United Nations, the European Union, and human rights groups. Critics say the conviction is politically motivated and underscores the shrinking space for dissent in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

Yvette Cooper, UK Foreign Secretary, described the ruling as “an effective life sentence” for the 78-year-old. She added: “This prosecution was politically motivated under a law imposed to silence China’s critics. The Hong Kong authorities must end Jimmy Lai’s appalling ordeal and release him to be with his family.”

Lai’s son, Sebastien, expressed concern for his father’s wellbeing, saying he feared “dying alone” while his legal team called him “the world’s most high-profile political prisoner.”

The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, stated that the verdict was incompatible with international law and should be quashed. He warned that Hong Kong’s broad national security legislation can be interpreted in ways that violate its international human rights obligations.

An EU spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, also condemned the sentence, calling for Lai’s “immediate and unconditional release” and deploring the outcome of the years-long prosecution.

Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, was a prominent critic of the Chinese Communist Party. Arrested in 2020 shortly after Beijing imposed the national security law in Hong Kong, Lai faced charges of conspiracy to produce seditious material and conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. The 20-year sentence is the harshest ever handed down under the law.

Once one of Hong Kong’s wealthiest individuals, Lai’s imprisonment marks a stark warning to pro-democracy activists in the city, which has seen a sharp decline in press freedom since the law was enacted.

Sebastien Lai said Monday that while the sentence was expected, the news was still difficult. “Dad knew this was coming even when he was first arrested, and even when he started campaigning 30 years ago. He fears not seeing his family again, he fears dying alone,” he said.

The UK government has raised Lai’s case at the highest levels, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, though concrete progress toward his release remains unclear.

Jonathan Price, part of Lai’s international legal team, described the sentence as a “monumental injustice” and highlighted his client’s status as a symbol of press freedom. Reporters Without Borders echoed this sentiment, calling it “a dark day for those who care about free press” and stating that “today, democracy is in jail in Hong Kong.”

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee defended the ruling, calling Lai’s crimes “heinous” and saying the sentence upholds the rule of law. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian also defended the prosecution as “legitimate, justified, lawful, and beyond reproach,” urging foreign governments not to interfere in China’s internal affairs.

The case has intensified scrutiny of Hong Kong’s national security law and its implications for human rights, political freedom, and international relations.