Catholic entrepreneur Jimmy Lai is being held in prison in Hong Kong unlawfully, a United Nations body ruled last week, just days before his trial under the city’s draconian National Security Law is due to resume. Source: The Tablet.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found multiple violations of Mr Lai’s fundamental rights and freedoms and called for his immediate release.
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, who heads Mr Lai’s international legal team, described the ruling as “excoriating” and “a resounding endorsement of what we have said all along”.
Mr Lai, she added, “should not spend another minute in prison”.
Sebastien Lai, Mr Lai’s son, who leads the #FreeJimmyLai campaign, described his father’s treatment as “inhumane” and called on governments around the world “to secure my father’s freedom, and save his life.”
The UN group also urged the Hong Kong authorities to provide the 76 year-old pro-democracy activist and founder of the now defunct Apple Daily newspaper with compensation, and conduct a full and independent investigation into his arbitrary and unlawful detention.
Concerns have grown in recent months about the deteriorating health of Mr Lai, a diabetic who has been held in solitary confinement in prison for almost four years.
In September, it was reported that he had been denied the right to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist since last December.
Mr Lai’s prolonged trial is expected to resume on Wednesday, but the UN Working Group stressed that “no trial of Mr Lai should take place” and that “the appropriate remedy would be to release Mr Lai immediately”.
The UN expressed serious concerns about the undermining of Mr Lai’s right to fair trial following interference with the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law, as well as harassment and intimidation of his lawyers.
FULL STORY
Release Jimmy Lai immediately, says UN working group (By Benedict Rogers, The Tablet)
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