Originally published at National Catholic Register
Political leaders, a United Nations body, and human rights groups have publicly spoken out in defense of Jimmy Lai, the Catholic Hong Kong media mogul who faces possible life imprisonment for his involvement in pro-democracy protests, while the Vatican and senior Church leaders continue a policy of declining to make public statements on the case.
Lai appeared in court in Hong Kong for three days this week on charges of foreign collusion and sedition — the result of a stringent national security law that came into force in 2020.
He has persistently denied the charges which have so far revolved around a series of articles he wrote in his Apple Daily newspaper in 2019 and 2020 critical of a clampdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong.
The national security law was enacted to punish what China considers to be subversion, secession, terrorism and working with foreign powers but which critics say is being used to quash dissent by removing civil liberties and free speech.
Lai’s court appearance, the first time he has been allowed to testify since his arrest and incarceration four years ago, came on the heels of the jailing this week of 45 Hong Kong
