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Jimmy Lai's son says his father's 20-year prison sentence is "devastating" but expected
| USA | general

Jimmy Lai's son says his father's 20-year prison sentence is "devastating" but expected

#Jimmy Lai #Hong Kong #National Security Law #Apple Daily #Sedition #Sebastien Lai #Pro-democracy

📌 Key Takeaways

  • Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison on national security and sedition charges.
  • The 77-year-old tycoon is the founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily.
  • Sebastien Lai expressed fear for his father's health given his advanced age and the length of the sentence.
  • International lawyers and human rights groups have condemned the trial as a politically motivated attack on free speech.

📖 Full Retelling

A Hong Kong court sentenced pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison on Monday following his conviction on national security charges, marking a significant escalation in the city’s crackdown on dissent. The 77-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper was found guilty of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials. The harsh penalty, delivered in the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts, stems from the Chinese central government's efforts to dismantle the pro-democracy movement that gained momentum in 2019. Following the sentencing, the mogul's son, Sebastien Lai, described the two-decade term as devastating yet anticipated given the current political climate in Hong Kong. He voiced grave concerns regarding his father's physical well-being, noting that the elder Lai has already spent years in solitary confinement and faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars. Despite the heavy sentence, Sebastien emphasized that his father remains a symbol of resilience for those who believe in press freedom and democratic values. Jonathan Price, a member of Jimmy Lai’s international legal team, criticized the trial as a politically motivated charade designed to silence one of the most prominent critics of the Chinese Communist Party. The legal team highlighted that the evidence primarily consisted of Lai's journalism and meetings with foreign officials, activities they argue should be protected under international human rights law. The sentencing has drawn immediate condemnation from international human rights organizations and Western governments, who view the case as the final blow to Hong Kong’s once-vaunted judicial independence.

🏷️ Themes

Human Rights, Politics, Press Freedom

📚 Related People & Topics

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Special administrative region of China

# Hong Kong **Hong Kong**, officially the **Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China** (HKSAR), is a highly urbanized metropolitan area and special administrative region located on the southern coast of China. ### Geography Situated immediately south of the city of...

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Sedition

Incitement of rebellion

Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech or organization, that tends toward rebellion against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent toward, or insurrection against, established authority. Sedition may include any commotion, though n...

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Apple Daily

Apple Daily

1995–2021 Hong Kong–based newspaper

Apple Daily (Chinese: 蘋果日報; Jyutping: ping4 gwo2 jat6 bou3) was a Chinese-language newspaper published in Hong Kong from 1995 to 2021, with an English-language online edition launched in 2020. Founded by Jimmy Lai and part of Next Media, Apple Daily was known for introducing tabloid journalism to Ho...

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Jimmy Lai

Jimmy Lai

Hong Kong businessman and activist (born 1947)

# Jimmy Lai (Lai Chee-ying) **Lai Chee-ying** (Chinese: 黎智英; born 8 December 1947), widely known as **Jimmy Lai**, is a prominent British-Hong Kong entrepreneur, media mogul, and political activist. He is recognized as a central figure in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. ### Professional Career...

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National Security Act

National Security Act

Topics referred to by the same term

# National Security Act The term **National Security Act** or **National Security Law** refers to various pieces of legislation enacted by sovereign states to govern matters of defense, intelligence, and internal stability. ### National Security Acts * **National Security Act (India):** A 1980 l...

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Connections for Hong Kong:

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📄 Original Source Content
Pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong on Monday. Lai's son, Sebastien Lai, says the sentence is "devastating but we expected it," and expresses concern for his father's health. Jonathan Price, a member of his legal team, also joins with more.

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