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Verdict in Jimmy Lai Case
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Verdict in Jimmy Lai Case

#Jimmy Lai #Marco Rubio #Hong Kong #Beijing #Sino-British Joint Declaration #Humanitarian parole #Pro-democracy

📌 Key Takeaways

  • U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the 20-year prison sentence handed to Jimmy Lai.
  • The U.S. views the verdict as a violation of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration.
  • Jimmy Lai has already spent over five years in detention prior to this final sentencing.
  • The United States is formally calling for Lai's release on humanitarian parole.

📖 Full Retelling

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a formal press statement on February 9, 2026, condemning the Hong Kong High Court's decision to sentence pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison for his political activities. The statement, released from Washington, D.C., characterizes the verdict as a tragic and unjust conclusion to a multi-year legal battle, asserting that the heavy sentence is a deliberate attempt by Beijing to silence dissent and erode the fundamental freedoms previously guaranteed to the region. Rubio framed the sentencing as a direct violation of the international commitments Beijing established under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. The case of Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, has become a symbol of the shrinking space for free speech and political opposition in Hong Kong. According to the State Department's profile of the case, Mr. Lai has already endured more than five years of detention and a trial process that spanned two years. The U.S. government argues that these legal proceedings are politically motivated, designed to intimidate other activists and consolidate control over the administrative region's judicial and social systems. In light of the severe sentence and the 78-year-old's prolonged imprisonment, the United States has officially urged Hong Kong authorities to grant Mr. Lai humanitarian parole. Secretary Rubio emphasized that the Lai family has suffered significantly throughout this ordeal and that continued incarceration further damages Hong Kong’s international standing. The statement serves as a stern warning to Beijing that the global community is monitoring its adherence—or lack thereof—to the 'one country, two systems' framework that was intended to preserve Hong Kong's unique autonomy.

🏷️ Themes

Human Rights, Diplomacy, Law

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📄 Original Source Content
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Verdict in Jimmy Lai Case Press Statement February 9, 2026 The Hong Kong High Court’s decision to sentence Jimmy Lai to 20 years is an unjust and tragic conclusion to this case.  It shows the world that Beijing will go to extraordinary lengths to silence those who advocate fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, casting aside the international commitments Beijing made in the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. After enduring a trial lasting two years, and detention in prison for more than five, Mr. Lai and his family have suffered enough.  The United States urges the authorities to grant Mr. Lai humanitarian parole.

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