12/18/2023 3:53 am (act. 12/18/2023 3:53 am)
Democracy activists face life in prison ©APA/AFP
The trial against publisher and democracy activist Jimmy Lai has begun in Hong Kong for alleged violations of the Chinese Special Administrative Region's controversial security law. The 76-year-old man appeared in court in West Kowloon district on Monday, Hong Kong newspaper “South China Morning Post” and other media reported.
Lai is the founder of Hong Kong's pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. The newspaper was forced to close in 2021 after being targeted by authorities for alleged security law violations. Lai has already been sentenced to two prison terms and has been in prison for three years. If, as expected, Lai is found guilty in the trial that is now beginning, in the worst case scenario he could face life in prison. The process, which has already been postponed several times, is expected to last until the new year.
The security law, which came into force in 2020 after mass protests calling for more democracy, targets the pro-democracy opposition and activities that Beijing considers subversive, separatist, terrorist or conspiratorial. Since the end of the protests, many activists have been convicted or fled abroad.
The managing director of the association Reporters Without Borders, Christian Mihr, criticized the case against Lai. “Just ahead of this historic trial, it is more important than ever that the international community supports Jimmy Lai,” Mihr said, according to a statement: “The court must adhere to the rule of law and end this time-worn procedure.”
Over the past three years, authorities have used the security law and other laws as a pretext to prosecute at least 28 journalists and press freedom advocates in Hong Kong.
Since July 1, 1997, the former British crown colony has again been part of China and is governed according to the principle of “one country, two systems”. In fact, this agreement stipulates that Hong Kongers will enjoy “a high degree of autonomy” and many freedoms for 50 years, until 2047. However, since the security law was passed, many people have only talked about “ one country, one system.”