Media Mogul Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in Hong Kong for national security crimes. This decision, considered one of the harshest penalties under the controversial law, has reignited discussions about Beijing’s emphasis on “stability” and freedom of expression.
Elchi.az reports that a Hong Kong court sentenced Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy activist and founder of Apple Daily, to 20 years in prison for national security crimes. Lai, who was found guilty in December of “colluding with foreign forces” and “inciting sedition,” denied all charges.
Lai’s family called the verdict “excessively harsh,” while human rights and press freedom organizations condemned the decision. However, the Beijing government claims that the National Security Law is necessary for stability in Hong Kong.
Holding a British passport, Lai was one of the Beijing government’s harshest critics. Lai’s pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily, emerged as a key publication of the opposition movement during the protests.
In the same case, six former executives of the newspaper were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 6 years and 9 months to 10 years on Monday.
Lai, regarded as a “hero” by pro-democracy groups, is called a “traitor” by the Beijing government. Lai has stated that he defends Hong Kong’s values, including the rule of law and freedom of expression.
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