Beijing-Backed Court Sentences Jimmy Lai To 20 Years
Court on Feb. 9, 2026 sentenced Jimmy Lai to 20 years under the 2020 national security law, records show.
ABC NewsPlight of imprisoned Hong Kong ex-publisher Jimmy Lai evokes grief over loss of press freedoms
ABC NewsPlight of imprisoned Hong Kong ex-publisher Jimmy Lai evokes grief over loss of press freedoms
Associated PressPlight of imprisoned Hong Kong ex-publisher Jimmy Lai evokes grief over loss of press freedoms
The GuardianJimmy Lai’s sentencing tells me this: democracy is dead in Hong Kong, and I escaped just in time | Nathan Law
Overview
A Beijing-backed court on Feb. 9, 2026 sentenced Jimmy Lai, 78, to 20 years in prison for conspiring to collude with foreign forces and conspiring to publish seditious articles, court documents show.
The sentence follows Lai's Dec. 2025 convictions under the 2020 national security law and comes nearly five years after pro-democracy Apple Daily folded in 2021 after authorities froze $2.3 million of the paper's assets, former staff said.
Volker Türk, U.N. human rights chief, urged the verdict be quashed, his office said, while Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee defended the ruling as reflecting the rule of law, officials said.
Six former Apple Daily journalists and two activists received prison terms ranging from six years, three months to 10 years, court documents show, demonstrating the broader use of national security charges against media figures.
U.S., U.K. and Canadian officials called for Lai's release or humanitarian parole and warned the ruling risks criminalizing journalism, statements show, raising the prospect of diplomatic fallout ahead of President Trump's planned April visit to Beijing.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Lai’s sentencing as emblematic of Hong Kong’s shrinking press freedoms, emphasizing grief and loss through emotional testimonies, expert commentary and historical context about Apple Daily’s role. Editorial choices prioritize former staff, watchdogs and foreign reactions; government defenses are included but positioned as rebuttals rather than central explanations.
FAQ
Jimmy Lai was sentenced for conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the National Security Law and conspiracy to publish seditious material under the Crimes Ordinance.
Jimmy Lai is a 78-year-old Hong Kong media magnate and pro-democracy activist who founded the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called for Lai's immediate release, citing violations of international law and his age/health; U.S. officials described it as unjust; U.K. and Canada urged release.
Six former Apple Daily journalists, an activist, and a paralegal received prison terms ranging from six years three months to 10 years.
The law, imposed in 2020, was used for Lai's convictions; it has led to arrests of hundreds, the closure of Apple Daily after asset freezes, and is criticized for vague provisions violating human rights.