Jimmy Lai's son seeks international support for his father's release

Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, has been incarcerated under Hong Kong’s national security law since late 2020. His son, Sebastien Lai, recently visited Washington to advocate for his father’s case, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention given his father’s deteriorating health and the harsh conditions of his imprisonment. International observers, including members of the U.S. Congress, have condemned the trial against Lai as emblematic of the decline in media freedoms in Hong Kong, where the World Press Freedom Index has significantly dropped since the implementation of the national security law. The call for action is not only a plea for Lai’s freedom but also a broader appeal to uphold democratic values and press freedoms that have been increasingly threatened in the region.