Son of jailed Catholic activist reveals: 78-year-old father could die in prison
Sebastien Lai makes an urgent appeal for the release of his father, Jimmy Lai, a Catholic activist jailed in Hong Kong for six years in solitary confinement, ahead of the meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.
TL;DR
- Sebastien Lai is advocating for his father, Jimmy Lai, a jailed Catholic and pro-democracy activist, to be released before President Xi Jinping's planned visit to the US.
- Jimmy Lai has been imprisoned for six years and is reportedly the oldest political prisoner in Hong Kong at 78, facing a 20-year sentence and suffering from declining health in solitary confinement.
- US Congressman Chris Smith has introduced legislation, the 'Jimmy Lai Hong Kong Political Prisoner Accountability Act of 2026,' to sanction officials responsible for the deaths of Hong Kong political prisoners in custody.
- Family members and supporters emphasize that Jimmy Lai has never advocated for violence, but rather used his platform to support freedom and democracy.
- The family hopes for a 'compassionate release' for Jimmy Lai, especially as his daughter has recently been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy.