The 20-year prison sentence handed down to Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai for alleged national security offenses marks a severe blow to the freedom of expression and human rights in the region.

Sarah Brooks, Deputy Regional Director of Amnesty International, condemned this decision as a stark indicator of Hong Kong’s shift from a city governed by the rule of law towards one overshadowed by fear and repression. She highlighted that jailing a 78-year-old man for exercising his rights demonstrates an utter disregard for human dignity and every day Lai spends imprisoned is a profound injustice.

Brooks stated that this verdict exemplifies how Hong Kong’s National Security Law is being wielded to transform fundamental freedoms into punishable offenses. The incarceration of Jimmy Lai is described as a calculated assault on freedom of expression and underscores the systematic erosion of rights once synonymous with Hong Kong.

Amnesty International has called on local authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Lai, whom they identify as a prisoner of conscience. Jimmy Lai was sentenced today by Hong Kong’s High Court on charges of collusion with foreign entities and publishing seditious materials under Beijing’s National Security Law (NSL) and the Crimes Ordinance.

The charges stemmed from articles published by Apple Daily, a paper Lai founded, which urged foreign powers to impose sanctions on China. Additional allegations included his meetings with foreign politicians, interviews with international media outlets, and social media activity supportive of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.

Lai has been detained since December 2020, denied bail under the premise that national security cases are exempt from its presumption. Amnesty International’s research noted that similar bail denials have occurred in most national security cases. Lai’s foreign lawyer was barred from representing him, further isolating the activist during his legal battle.

Since its inception in 1995, Lai’s Apple Daily became a prominent independent voice in Hong Kong. After the introduction of the National Security Law in mid-2020, the paper and its staff came under intense scrutiny, culminating in raids, arrests, asset freezes, and ultimately its closure in June 2021, actions Amnesty previously described as an outright attack on press freedom.

Lai had already faced multiple convictions prior to this lengthy sentence, including charges related to unauthorized assemblies and fraud, resulting in over seven years behind bars. In 2024, Amnesty International officially recognized Jimmy Lai, along with fellow human rights advocates Chow Hang-tung and Ding Jiaxi, as prisoners of conscience, individuals targeted solely for their peaceful advocacy for dignity and justice.