Jimmy Lai, a prominent pro-democracy figure and former media mogul from Hong Kong, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. This marks the harshest penalty under the national security law imposed by China, which has significantly curtailed dissent in the region. Lai, aged 78, was found guilty in December of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring to publish seditious articles.
Lai’s conviction is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong. Alongside him, six former employees of his now-defunct newspaper, Apple Daily, and two activists received sentences ranging from over six to ten years for related charges. The case has sparked international concern over the erosion of press freedom in Hong Kong, once a stronghold of media independence in Asia.
The sentencing has drawn criticism from the United States and the United Kingdom. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his dismay and mentioned discussing Lai’s case with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, also called for Lai’s release, emphasizing his British citizenship. Lai’s family described the sentence as “draconian” and a threat to his life, with his son Sebastien and daughter Claire voicing their distress over the verdict.
The judges involved in the case, appointed by the government, justified the severe sentence by labeling Lai as the mastermind behind the conspiracies. They acknowledged his age and health issues, which include heart problems and diabetes, as factors that would make his imprisonment particularly harsh. Lai has been in custody for over five years, with his solitary confinement reportedly being his own choice.
Lai’s case is seen as a significant blow to Hong Kong’s media environment. The closure of Apple Daily in 2021 was a shock to the local press, and Hong Kong’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has plummeted. The government’s actions have raised alarms among human rights organizations, with Human Rights Watch condemning the sentence as excessively severe.
Fonte:https://g1.globo.com/mundo/noticia/2026/02/09/jimmy-lai-condenado.ghtml
