British Judge Under Fire for Keeping Free Speech Advocate in Prison
The son of a UK citizen imprisoned in China is urging action to save his father before it’s too late. Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy newspaper tycoon, has been in solitary confinement for nearly four years. He was jailed in 2020 and faces a potential life sentence under China’s National Security Law, as well as serving time for charges overseen by British judges.
British judge David Neuberger recently upheld Mr. Lai’s conviction for participating in anti-Beijing protests in 2019, despite criticism that the case was an act of vengeance by the Chinese government. Former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten expressed concerns about the ruling, stating that Mr. Lai has been targeted by the Chinese Communist Party for advocating democracy in Hong Kong.
Mr. Lai, who fled Mao’s China as a child, built a successful business empire and became a prominent voice for democracy in Hong Kong. Despite the opportunity to escape, he chose to stay during the 2019 protests, participating in peaceful demonstrations. Lord Patten criticized the British judges for legitimizing oppressive laws used by dictatorial regimes, rather than upholding the rule of law.
More than 1,800 political prisoners have been detained in Hong Kong following the 2019 pro-democracy protests, leading to concerns about the erosion of civil liberties in the city. Two British judges resigned from Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal earlier this year, citing concerns about the territory’s descent into totalitarianism.
Mr. Lai’s appeal raised questions about the proportionality of his conviction in relation to fundamental human rights protections. However, Lord Neuberger’s judgment dismissed the relevance of British legal decisions in Hong Kong, highlighting differences in the legal frameworks of the two jurisdictions.
Pro-democracy activist Simon Cheng, who fled to the UK and faced threats from Beijing, emphasized the global implications of the persecution faced by individuals like Mr. Lai. He warned that the use of lawfare to suppress dissent is not limited to Hong Kong but represents a broader trend of transnational repression.
British judges have played a role in Hong Kong’s legal system since the city was returned to China in 1997, aiming to uphold the rule of law and provide expertise to local lawyers. However, concerns have been raised about the judiciary’s ability to maintain its independence in the face of political pressure.
Sebastien Lai, the son of Jimmy Lai, is calling on the UK government to take more proactive steps to secure his father’s release. With Mr. Lai’s advancing age and prolonged detention on questionable charges, time is of the essence in ensuring justice and freedom for the imprisoned advocate.
