A Hong Kong court has sentenced pro-democracy media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison on charges related to national security. The ruling marks one of the most severe penalties handed down under the city’s national security law.
Rights organizations have criticized the sentence, expressing concern over its implications for press freedom in Hong Kong. Lai, a prominent critic of the government, has been a central figure in the city’s pro-democracy movement.
**Why this matters**
The sentencing of Jimmy Lai highlights ongoing tensions in Hong Kong between authorities and pro-democracy activists. It raises questions about the future of independent journalism and civil liberties in the city under the national security law, which has been used to target dissent since its implementation.
Source: NewsData