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Home / News / World News / Photos / IN PHOTOS: Hong Kong jails Jimmy Lai for 20 years under national security law

IN PHOTOS: Hong Kong jails Jimmy Lai for 20 years under national security law

Updated On: 09 February, 2026 02:50 PM IST | Tarun Verma

Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, 78, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security offences, including urging foreign sanctions and publishing “seditious” articles in his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper. The ruling, the harshest under the Beijing-imposed law, sparked international criticism, with rights groups calling it “effectively a death sentence” and a blow to press freedom. Lai will serve 18 additional years after accounting for overlapping jail time (Pics/AFP)

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Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, 78, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security offences, including urging foreign sanctions and publishing “seditious” articles in his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper. The ruling, the harshest under the Beijing-imposed law, sparked international criticism, with rights groups calling it “effectively a death sentence” and a blow to press freedom. Lai will serve 18 additional years after accounting for overlapping jail time (Pics/AFP)

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Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, 78, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security offences, including urging foreign sanctions and publishing “seditious” articles in his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper. The ruling, the harshest under the Beijing-imposed law, sparked international criticism, with rights groups calling it “effectively a death sentence” and a blow to press freedom. Lai will serve 18 additional years after accounting for overlapping jail time (Pics/AFP)
<p>Teresa Lai (R), wife of convicted pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai and Joseph Zen, retired cardinal of the Catholic Church (L), arrive at the West Kowloon Magistrates Court for Jimmy Lai`s sentencing</p>

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Teresa Lai (R), wife of convicted pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai and Joseph Zen, retired cardinal of the Catholic Church (L), arrive at the West Kowloon Magistrates Court for Jimmy Lai`s sentencing

<p>Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty in December of urging foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and for publishing "seditious" articles in his paper</p>

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Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was found guilty in December of urging foreign countries to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and for publishing "seditious" articles in his paper

<p>His defence lawyer Robert Pang declined to comment on whether Lai would lodge an appeal, which can be done in the next 28 days</p>

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His defence lawyer Robert Pang declined to comment on whether Lai would lodge an appeal, which can be done in the next 28 days

<p>A police vehicle operated by the explosive ordnance disposal unit (C) passes by as police personnel work outside the West Kowloon Magistrates` Court in Hong Kong</p>

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A police vehicle operated by the explosive ordnance disposal unit (C) passes by as police personnel work outside the West Kowloon Magistrates` Court in Hong Kong

<p>Teresa Lai was grim-faced during the hearing and made no comment as she left the court, but their children, who live abroad, condemned the sentence in a statement</p>

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Teresa Lai was grim-faced during the hearing and made no comment as she left the court, but their children, who live abroad, condemned the sentence in a statement

<p>Members of the media wait outside the West Kowloon Magistrates` court in Hong Kong.&nbsp;</p>

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Members of the media wait outside the West Kowloon Magistrates` court in Hong Kong. 

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