Ten Catholic bishops recently called for the release of Jimmy Lai, the former owner of Apple Daily newspaper in Hong Kong who has been in solitary confinement for over 1,000 days. This plea was made public on Nov. 1.
The Catholic Bishops said, "We, the undersigned, bishops of the Catholic Church, call on the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to immediately and unconditionally release Jimmy Lai. There is no place for such cruelty and oppression in a territory that claims to uphold the rule of law and respect the right to freedom of expression. In standing up for his beliefs and committing himself through his faith to challenge autocracy and repression, Jimmy Lai has lost his business, been cut off from his family, and has just surpassed 1,000 days in prison, while facing the prospect of many more years of incarceration to come. He must be freed now," said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, et al.
To understand the situation further, let's look at some background information.
NBC news reported last year that Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy advocate and British citizen, was found guilty of fraud in a Hong Kong court for allegedly breaching a lease by operating a consulting firm in an office owned by a government entity. Lai, who had already served jail time for his involvement in the 2019 Hong Kong protests and organizing a vigil for Tiananmen Square victims in 2020, pleaded guilty. He faces potential life imprisonment for "colluding with foreign forces" and is accused of producing "seditious publications." The law was enacted by Beijing in response to pro-democracy demonstrations.
Recent reports provide additional details about Lai's current circumstances.
The Associated Press recently captured a rare photo of Jimmy Lai, who was last photographed in February 2021. According to the article, Lai spends 23 hours a day in solitary confinement and is allowed 50 minutes for exercise. Originally set for trial in December, his court proceedings were delayed until September. During this time, the Hong Kong government appealed to Beijing in an effort to prevent him from securing a British defense lawyer.
Additionally, a group of bishops have made their stance on the issue known.
The Catholic bishops’ statement read, "Mr. Lai’s persecution for supporting pro-democracy causes through his newspaper and in other forums has gone on long enough." The ten signing Catholic bishops were Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York (United States), Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, Major-Archbishop of Trivandrum (India), the Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services-USA (United States), the Most Rev. Anthony Fisher. O.P., Archbishop of Sydney (Australia), the Most Rev. Gintaras Grušas, Archbishop of Vilnius (Lithuania), the Most Rev. J. Michael Miller, C.S.B, Archbishop of Vancouver (Canada), the Most Rev. John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark (United Kingdom), the Most Rev. Robert E. Barron, Bishop of Winona-Rochester (United States), the Most Rev. Alan A McGuckian S.J., Bishop of Raphoe (Ireland)), the Most Rev Lucius Ugorji Bishop of Umuahia Nigeria).
Lai's story intersects with broader issues involving religion and international politics.
Catholic Vote noted that, after marrying a Catholic and converting to Catholicism himself, Lai has garnered support from Western leaders. This statement from bishops against the National Security Law coincides with the ongoing challenges the Vatican faces in its relationship with China, particularly concerning the appointment of bishops.
Nonprofit organizations have also shown support for Lai's cause.
Groups such as ChinaAid have joined the fight for religious liberty in China. According to their website, ChinaAid is a global non-profit organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom and the rule of law in China, with a focus on Christian human rights advocacy. The organization was founded by Bob (Xiqiu) Fu is a prominent advocate for persecuted faith communities in China, renowned for his advocacy on their behalf worldwide. Born and raised in mainland China, Fu played a key role as a student leader during the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations, advocating for freedom and democracy.
Lai's family has also voiced their support amidst these trying times.
The Associated Press quoted Lai’s son, Sebastien, who said, "My father is in prison because he spoke truth to power for decades." His statement to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China continued, "He is still speaking truth to power and refusing to be silenced, even though he has lost everything, and he may die in prison. I am very proud to be his son."
