Jimmy Lai, a key symbol of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for violations of the national security law. This ruling has drawn extensive criticism from various international figures and organizations, including the United Nations, which argues that the court's decision is incompatible with international law and must be overturned. Volker Turk, the UN's top human rights representative, noted that the vague and broad provisions of the national security law have been interpreted and enforced in ways that violate Hong Kong's international human rights obligations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the verdict as 'unjust and tragic,' emphasizing that it demonstrates how China is willing to disregard its international commitments made in the Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984. This declaration guarantees a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong until 2047, even after its return to Chinese sovereignty. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also criticized the sentence, equating the 20-year term to a life sentence for the 78-year-old Lai and calling it a result of politically motivated prosecutions designed to silence dissent.

Moreover, international organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Amnesty International have condemned the ruling. CPJ's Jodie Ginsburg stated that this harsh decision marks a severe blow to press freedom in Hong Kong, describing it as a final nail in the coffin. Amnesty International echoed this sentiment, viewing the sentence as a grim indicator of Hong Kong's transformation from a rule of law city to one ruled by fear, underscoring the deteriorating state of civil liberties in the region.