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August 22, 2025 – UK –
A global coalition of 72 press freedom and human rights organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), has called on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intervene and secure the medical release of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old British-Hong Kong publisher facing declining health in detention.
In a joint letter sent on August 21, 2025, the groups urged the UK government to act “swiftly and decisively” to ensure Lai’s release, stressing that his current condition poses “life-threatening risks.” Lai, the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, has been jailed under Hong Kong’s national security law since 2020 and faces possible life imprisonment if convicted.
The appeal comes amid growing alarm over Lai’s deteriorating health. Reports indicate he has suffered from heart palpitations and near-collapse episodes, requiring a heart monitor and medication. Despite these complications, he has been compelled to attend long court hearings. His request to be excused on medical grounds was denied, further heightening concern about the toll on his health. Rights groups note that his confinement, marked by solitary detention, minimal sunlight, and limited medical access, has accelerated his decline.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which co-led the appeal, emphasised the UK’s responsibility to protect Lai as a British citizen. “The UK government must do more than express concern,” the coalition stated. “It must take urgent steps to secure his immediate release so he can reunite with his family and receive the medical care he urgently needs.”
Lai’s case has drawn international attention as a symbol of shrinking press freedom in Hong Kong. Once a prominent voice of dissent, Apple Daily was forced to shut down in 2021 following police raids and the freezing of its assets. His ongoing trial, already delayed multiple times, underscores the broader crackdown on independent journalism and free expression under Beijing’s influence.
By urging Prime Minister Starmer to act, the coalition of rights groups highlights both the humanitarian crisis facing Lai and the UK’s moral obligation to defend one of its citizens at risk.
References –
CPJ joins 71 groups in call to secure Jimmy Lai’s release on medical grounds
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