Jailed Hong Kong Activist Denies Charges as “Show Trial” Sparks Global Outrage

Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai has pleaded not guilty to charges of sedition and collusion with foreign elements during his first testimony on Wednesday  in a high-profile trial that began nearly a year ago. Critics have labeled the trial a “show.”  

The British national and pro-democracy activist faces charges under Hong Kong’s draconian National Security Law and could face life imprisonment if convicted. Prosecutors allege that he called on foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China.  

Lai, who founded the popular Apple Daily newspaper in 1995, was a vocal advocate for democracy and freedom of speech. In 2021, authorities raided the paper’s offices, arrested its staff, shut it down, and seized its assets.  

These actions, along with Lai’s arrest and ongoing trial, have drawn widespread criticism from press freedom and human rights organizations worldwide. The case is another example of the deteriorating media freedom in Hong Kong.  

The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation (CFHK) called on Wednesday for Lai’s immediate release, stating that he is being targeted by the Chinese Communist Party for his efforts to advance democracy in Hong Kong.  

The CFHK’s call follows a letter signed earlier this week by more than 100 politicians from around the world, demanding an end to Lai’s “show trial.”  

The letter, signed by members of the European Parliament and lawmakers from 22 countries, described the charges against Lai as “trumped up” and stemming from his peaceful advocacy for democracy, journalism, and human rights. It also accused Chinese authorities of obtaining evidence through torture.  

The letter referenced a November 15 opinion by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which confirmed that Lai is being arbitrarily detained and that his rights and freedoms have been violated.  

Lai has been held in Hong Kong's maximum-security Stanley Prison since 2020, often in solitary confinement, raising concerns about his health. His son told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that his father’s treatment is “inhumane” and is “breaking his body.” He added that Lai, a practicing Catholic, has been denied Holy Communion for over a year.  

Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International’s China Director, previously described Lai’s trial as “a shameful retreat from fundamental principles of fair treatment, dignity, and due process.”  

In response, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong government pointed CPJ to a press release from November 17, dismissing the concerns raised by Lai’s international legal team as “completely fact-twisting” and “a despicable political maneuver with malicious intent.”  

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed Lai’s case and alleged human rights violations in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the ongoing G20 summit in Brazil. According to a video posted by Bloomberg on X, Chinese officials interrupted the meeting and removed British journalists from the room.  

On the sidelines of the summit, Starmer expressed concern over “reports of Jimmy Lai’s deterioration,” according to The Independent.