Hong Kong activist Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison for breaching the national security law, which local and international groups deem an effective death sentence due to his age.
Jimmy Lai, a prominent pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong and former owner of the Apple Daily newspaper, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Hong Kong court on charges related to a violation of the national security law. The court cited Lai's role in conspiring with foreign entities to undermine the political and economic stability of Hong Kong and using social media to incite discontent against the authorities. This lengthy sentence is seen as one of the heaviest penalties for such offenses, especially against a backdrop of political repression in the region. Lai, who has consistently denied the charges against him, had previously faced a guilty verdict for the same allegations.
