Indigenous and Rights Groups Condemn Jimmy Lai’s 20-Year Sentence in Hong Kong

Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison under the Beijing-imposed national security law, marking the most severe punishment yet handed down in such a case. Lai, 78, was convicted in December 2025 on charges including conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious articles before Tuesday’s sentencing, which has drawn sharp criticism internationally.

Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, has been in custody since his 2020 arrest and has largely been held in solitary confinement. Family members and supporters described the lengthy sentence — effectively a life term given his age — as a “death sentence” and a “dark day for justice,” with some people in the courtroom moved to tears at the ruling.

The sentence has drawn global condemnation from governments, rights organisations and media freedom advocates, who view it as emblematic of the erosion of free expression and judicial independence in Hong Kong under the national security law introduced in 2020. Critics argue the case reflects a broader crackdown on dissent and press freedom in the city.

Canada’s government voiced disappointment in the decision, with officials urging Lai’s immediate release and reaffirming support for press freedom worldwide. Other democratic nations and human rights groups, including Amnesty International, also decried the ruling, calling it unjust and disproportionate, especially considering Lai’s health and long detention.

While Beijing and Hong Kong authorities maintain the ruling upholds national security and the rule of law, critics contend the national security law’s broad provisions and application to journalism have chilled independent media and civic discourse. Many see Lai’s sentencing as having profound implications for political freedoms in Hong Kong and for international perceptions of the city’s autonomy under the “one country, two systems” framework.