Jimmy Lai is a veteran journalist, writer, activist, publisher, and a prominent pro-democracy figure in Hong Kong.  

Known for his outspoken criticism of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, Lai has long been a symbol of the struggle for freedom of expression in Hong Kong. Over the years, his independent newspaper, Apple Daily, played a key role in investigating and exposing issues such as corruption, human rights abuses, and government overreach.  

In 2020, following the imposition of Hong Kong’s National Security Law (NSL), the Chinese and Hong Kong governments escalated their crackdown on pro-democracy activists, with Lai being targeted among prominent figures. He was arrested in August 2020 under the NSL on charges of colluding with foreign forces, which coincided with police raids of Apple Daily’s headquarters. The situation intensified as authorities froze the assets of Apple Daily, forcing the newspaper’s closure in June 2021. This marked the end of Hong Kong’s most prominent independent media outlet, silencing a critical voice in the region. 

Lai has been detained in prolonged solitary confinement since December 2020. His imprisonment has been marked by ongoing legal battles and procedural irregularities. In December 2022, he was sentenced to nearly six years on charges of fraud concerning a commercial lease violation, a move widely condemned by human rights groups as an attempt to minimise his influence and remove him from public life. Although these charges were ostensibly unrelated to his journalism, observers note that the prosecution’s pattern reflects a targeted campaign against his media work and democratic ideals. 

In June 2023, Sebastien Lai addressed the 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council on behalf of PEN International during the Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur Clément Nyaletsossi Voule. Sebastien Lai urged the Special Rapporteur and the Council to raise his father’s case and the growing criminalisation of protest and dissent in Hong Kong with both Hong Kong and Chinese authorities. In response, the Special Rapporteur urged the Hong Kong authorities to release Mr Lai. In March 2024, Jennifer Robinson, a member of Lai’s international legal team, addressed the Council on behalf of PEN International, urging international action to protect those who are peacefully exercising their freedom of expression, and emphasising that Lai’s ongoing prosecution under NSL charges is aimed at silencing Lai for his journalism and concerns over human rights in Hong Kong. In July 2024, PEN International again highlighted Lai’s plight before the UN Human Rights Council during China’s Universal Periodic Review, calling for his release and denouncing the misuse of national security legislation in Hong Kong to criminalise journalism and dissent. 

Lai’s trial under the NSL commenced on 18 December 2023, where he faces charges of sedition and NSL offences relating to his pro-democracy activism and publishing. The trial has faced multiple delays and adjournments, and is currently scheduled to resume on 20 November 2024. 

Lai’s high-profile case underscores the erosion of Hong Kong’s once-lauded freedoms, and poses a chilling example of how laws meant to safeguard national security are being exploited to repress peaceful expression and critical journalism. 

PEN International considers Jimmy Lai’s prosecution a blatant attempt to silence his voice and an attempt to dismantle independent media in Hong Kong. His continued imprisonment symbolises a broader assault on freedom of expression and sets a dangerous precedent for journalists worldwide. PEN International stands in solidarity with Jimmy Lai and calls on the Hong Kong authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally.