Jimmy Lai’s Fight for Freedom in Hong Kong
Published January 22, 2026
Goal: Defend human rights
The European Parliament adopted a resolution that condemns Hong Kong’s conviction of Jimmy Lai, demands his release and the dropping of all charges, calls for the repeal of the National Security Law and other restrictive laws, and urges sanctions and stronger diplomatic pressure.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 22 January 2026 about Hong Kong’s conviction of Jimmy Lai, a 78‑year‑old British citizen and pro‑democracy activist.
- Lai was found guilty on 15 December 2025 of colluding with foreign forces under Hong Kong’s National Security Law (NSL) and of sedition under an old colonial law.
- He could be sentenced to life in prison.
- Lai has been in custody since December 2020 and has spent more than 1 800 days in solitary confinement.
- He suffers from diabetes and is in life‑threatening conditions.
The resolution strongly condemns Lai’s conviction and the imminent sentencing. It calls on Hong Kong to release Lai and all other political prisoners, drop all charges against them, and give them immediate medical care.
It also criticises the NSL and the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) for eroding freedom of expression, media freedom and judicial independence, and for violating international law that protects Hong Kong’s special status until 2047.
The Parliament urges the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to:
- repeal the NSL and SNSO,
- stop using security laws to silence independent media and opposition,
- suspend extradition agreements with China and Hong Kong, and
- allow the EU to impose sanctions on Hong Kong officials, including Chief Executive John Lee, for the crackdown on freedoms.
It also asks the EU to increase diplomatic pressure on Hong Kong and to monitor Lai’s situation closely.
Licensing: The summaries on this page are available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
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