WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) announced he will sponsor Hong Kong political prisoner Jimmy Lai—a prominent advocate for democracy—through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission’s (Lantos Commission) Defending Freedoms Project. Mr. Lai was arrested for his criticism of the Chinese Communist Party through his work as a publisher and pro-democracy advocate. Lai is the founder of Apple Daily, the largest Chinese language pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong.
“The Chinese Communist Party—like other authoritarian regimes—abuses government power by suppressing and persecuting dissent,” said Rep. Raskin. “Jimmy Lai’s detention underscores how the CCP silences critics to exert power over Hong Kong. I’m proud to sponsor Mr. Lai and demand that the CCP immediately release him and stop attacking pro-democracy advocates.”
“Freedom House is proud to serve as an official partner of the Defending Freedoms Project and to advocate for the release of political prisoners around the world, including Mr. Jimmy Lai,” said Annie Boyajian, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Freedom House. “Mr. Lai is guilty of nothing more than attempting to exercise and protect fundamental rights in Hong Kong. His imprisonment and the trumped up charges against him are evidence of just how much Beijing fears truth tellers. We thank Congressman Raskin for serving as Mr. Lai’s advocate, and we will continue to call for the immediate release of Mr. Lai and all Hong Kong’s political prisoners.”
Lai has been arrested on multiple occasions for engaging in peaceful dissent from the CCP. During one arrest, he faced spurious allegations of fraud. He is now being prosecuted for alleged sedition and conspiracy to collude with foreign agents under the controversial National Security Law (NSL) for his journalism and his pro-democracy activities, in clear violation of his rights to freedom of expression and to a fair trial.
At 76 years of age, Lai has been held in prolonged solitary confinement since December 2020, for entirely peaceful conduct, in exercise of his fundamental freedoms. His age and diabetes diagnosis raise serious concerns about his physical well-being. He faces a potential life sentence under the NSL, depending upon the outcome of his current trial.
The Lantos Commission’s Defending Freedoms Project allows members of Congress to shine a light on prisoners of conscience across the globe and encourages accountability for unjust treatment. The Project operates in conjunction with organizations like Freedom House, the advocacy partner joining Rep. Raskin’s sponsorship of Lai. The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission was established in honor of the late Congressman Tom Lantos, who was a leading advocate for human rights during his tenure in Congress.
Rep. Raskin has previously sponsored prisoners of conscience through the Lantos Commission’s Defending Freedoms Project, including Nigerian Humanist Mubarak Bala, who has been imprisoned since April 28, 2020, when he was arrested after he posted on Facebook that he did not believe in an afterlife.
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