A Hong Kong court sentenced Catholic media tycoon Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison on February 9, 2026, under Beijing’s draconian national security law. Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, was convicted in December 2025 of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials. This marks the harshest penalty yet under the 2020 law imposed by China, which has silenced dissent and crushed Hong Kong’s autonomy.
Lai, a devout Catholic convert and fierce critic of the Chinese Communist Party, has been detained since August 2020. His son Sebastien Lai called the sentence “heartbreaking,” urging global leaders to intervene: “My father is a man of faith and principle who has dedicated his life to fighting for freedom.” Rights groups decried the verdict as “cruel and profoundly unjust,” with Amnesty International labeling it a “travesty of justice” that exposes the law’s role in stifling opposition.
The case stemmed from Lai’s meetings with U.S. politicians and Apple Daily’s bold reporting, which authorities branded as threats to national security. Lai pleaded not guilty, maintaining his innocence throughout a trial marred by international criticism. His wife Teresa held back tears as she left the courtroom, symbolizing the personal toll on families under authoritarian rule.
Conservatives worldwide condemn this as Communist China’s war on faith and democracy, targeting a man who embodied Christian values of truth and justice. Lai’s plight echoes broader persecutions of believers, demanding U.S. action to defend allies against Beijing’s overreach.