A champion of freedom of speech and press freedom, Jimmy Lai, the founder of the Apple Daily newspaper, now finds himself entangled in a web of legal proceedings orchestrated by the Hong Kong SAR authorities. UN experts expressed deep concern over the legitimacy of the charges and called for Lai’s immediate release.
The court in Hong Kong allowed the sedition charge against Lai to proceed despite concerns about procedural irregularities. The international community is closely watching Lai’s trial.
Lai’s arrest in August 2020, just a month after the enactment of the National Security Law, is seen by experts as a direct response to his criticism of the Chinese Government and his advocacy for democracy in Hong Kong. The charges, including sedition and foreign collusion, stem from Lai’s writings and publications that highlighted the negative impact of the National Security Law on fundamental rights and freedoms in the region.
The UN experts raise alarms over multiple violations of Lai’s rights, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. They highlight concerns about denying access to a lawyer of Lai’s choosing and the authorities’ handpicking of judges. Lai, already sentenced to prison for unauthorized assembly and fraud, could face life imprisonment if convicted in this trial.
The experts emphasize that the National Security Law itself is not in line with international legal obligations, echoing the Human Rights Committee’s call for its repeal. Lai’s trial marks the second under this controversial law, with the international community expressing concern over its misuse against pro-democracy activists.
As Jimmy Lai’s fate hangs in the balance, the world waits to see whether the court will uphold justice or contribute to the suppression of dissent in Hong Kong.
