Hong Kong: For Lawyers hong kong Media mogul and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lie Asking the United Nations to investigate his imprisonment and multiple criminal charges as “legal harassment” that punishes him for speaking out.
The publisher of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper was one of the most prominent activists arrested in Hong Kong’s crackdown on almost all political criticism since massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.
The crackdown continued early Monday with the arrest of another veteran journalist, Alan Au Ka-lun, a teaching consultant who worked for several Hong Kong media outlets.
The action by Lai’s lawyers in Britain withdrew its judges from Hong Kong’s top court after that country announced last month that keeping them there would “legalize persecution” in the British colony.
Lai, 74, has been charged under Hong Kong’s comprehensive national security law and is serving 20 months in prison. His legal team at Doughty Street Chambers in the UK said in a statement that his assets have been confiscated and there are legal cases against him, including four separate criminal cases related to his involvement in and participating in various protests. Are included.
Lai’s lawyer, Lai’s lawyer, faced “the risk of spending the rest of his life in prison for merely speaking out, and demanding to protect press freedom, democracy, and the rule of law in Hong Kong”. Caoilfionn Gallaghersaid in the statement.
In a follow-up email, Gallagher said the appeals had been filed with the UN special envoys for freedom of opinion and expression, terrorism and human rights, the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and human rights defenders.
“We await a response,” she wrote.
Lai’s son Sebastian LaisIt was cited as urging UN special envoys to investigate the actions of Chinese and Hong Kong officials against Hong Kong residents.
While the United Nations has a number of special ties, their powers are primarily limited to obtaining information from government agencies and possibly taking actual steps to end violations.
Hong Kong officials did not immediately comment on the request. When Britain withdrew its judges, China reacted furiously, accusing Britain of openly interfering and damaging Hong Kong’s judicial system.
Police released a brief statement on Au’s arrest, saying a 54-year-old man had been arrested for “conspiracy to publish a seditious publication” and was being detained for further investigation.
The national security law imposed by Beijing to quell local protests defines treason in very broad terms, allowing authorities to punish almost all open criticism of the government. Four people arrested for clapping in court last week are also among those caught in its trap.
Au was a teaching consultant at the Journalism School of the Chinese University and previously worked for Hong Kong media outlets TVB and RTHK. He also wrote a column for the pro-democracy platform Stand News, which was shut down last year after police raided and arrested employees.
In a statement, the Hong Kong Journalists Association said AU has been a mentor to young journalists and expressed its “deep concern” that his arrest would “further damage press freedom in Hong Kong.”
“We urge the police to explain the matter as soon as possible, and at the same time request the government to protect the freedom of the press and speech enjoyed by Hong Kong citizens in accordance with the Basic Law,” it said, referring to Hong Kong By doing the mini-constitution of Kong under which it came back under Chinese control.
The publisher of the now-shuttered Apple Daily newspaper was one of the most prominent activists arrested in Hong Kong’s crackdown on almost all political criticism since massive pro-democracy protests in 2019.
The crackdown continued early Monday with the arrest of another veteran journalist, Alan Au Ka-lun, a teaching consultant who worked for several Hong Kong media outlets.
The action by Lai’s lawyers in Britain withdrew its judges from Hong Kong’s top court after that country announced last month that keeping them there would “legalize persecution” in the British colony.
Lai, 74, has been charged under Hong Kong’s comprehensive national security law and is serving 20 months in prison. His legal team at Doughty Street Chambers in the UK said in a statement that his assets have been confiscated and there are legal cases against him, including four separate criminal cases related to his involvement in and participating in various protests. Are included.
Lai’s lawyer, Lai’s lawyer, faced “the risk of spending the rest of his life in prison for merely speaking out, and demanding to protect press freedom, democracy, and the rule of law in Hong Kong”. Caoilfionn Gallaghersaid in the statement.
In a follow-up email, Gallagher said the appeals had been filed with the UN special envoys for freedom of opinion and expression, terrorism and human rights, the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and human rights defenders.
“We await a response,” she wrote.
Lai’s son Sebastian LaisIt was cited as urging UN special envoys to investigate the actions of Chinese and Hong Kong officials against Hong Kong residents.
While the United Nations has a number of special ties, their powers are primarily limited to obtaining information from government agencies and possibly taking actual steps to end violations.
Hong Kong officials did not immediately comment on the request. When Britain withdrew its judges, China reacted furiously, accusing Britain of openly interfering and damaging Hong Kong’s judicial system.
Police released a brief statement on Au’s arrest, saying a 54-year-old man had been arrested for “conspiracy to publish a seditious publication” and was being detained for further investigation.
The national security law imposed by Beijing to quell local protests defines treason in very broad terms, allowing authorities to punish almost all open criticism of the government. Four people arrested for clapping in court last week are also among those caught in its trap.
Au was a teaching consultant at the Journalism School of the Chinese University and previously worked for Hong Kong media outlets TVB and RTHK. He also wrote a column for the pro-democracy platform Stand News, which was shut down last year after police raided and arrested employees.
In a statement, the Hong Kong Journalists Association said AU has been a mentor to young journalists and expressed its “deep concern” that his arrest would “further damage press freedom in Hong Kong.”
“We urge the police to explain the matter as soon as possible, and at the same time request the government to protect the freedom of the press and speech enjoyed by Hong Kong citizens in accordance with the Basic Law,” it said, referring to Hong Kong By doing the mini-constitution of Kong under which it came back under Chinese control.