A Hong Kong court has given a long prison sentence to Jimmy Lai. He is 78 years old and a British citizen. Lai founded the newspaper Apple Daily. The court found him guilty of sedition and working with foreign countries. This is under China's strict national security law. The sentence is 20 years. This is a sad end to a legal case that started in 2020. Many international groups are unhappy with the decision.
The court gave Lai a very long sentence. He says he is innocent and a political prisoner. This shows Hong Kong is changing. It used to be a place for free speech. Now, China has more control. Prosecutors said Lai asked other countries for help. The court thought this was serious. Many people think this shows China wants to stop people from disagreeing.
The 20-year sentence is one of the longest allowed by the security law. The court did not reduce the sentence. This is even though Lai is old and not well. His family is very worried. His daughter Claire and son Sebastien fear he might die in prison.
Many groups have strongly criticized the sentence. The International Press Institute called it "outrageous and inhumane." They said it shows China wants to stop press freedom. Human Rights Watch said the sentence is "cruel and unjust." Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International also disagree. They say freedoms in Hong Kong are getting weaker.
This sentence is important for Hong Kong. It shows a big change. Open talking is becoming difficult. People who want democracy face problems. The world is watching Hong Kong. It is becoming a more difficult place.