Jimmy Lai, a prominent pro-democracy figure and media mogul in Hong Kong, was sentenced to 20 years in prison under China’s national security law, a ruling described as “profoundly unjust” by rights groups. Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, was convicted of foreign collusion and seditious publication after his arrest in 2020. His case highlights China’s crackdown on dissent following the 2019 protests against Beijing’s influence. Additional trials of pro-democracy activists continue, reflecting the ongoing suppression of opposition in Hong Kong.
