{"id":1348,"date":"2026-02-09T10:34:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T10:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=1348"},"modified":"2026-02-09T10:34:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T10:34:32","slug":"eu-calls-for-immediate-release-of-jimmy-lai-after-politically-motivated-prosecution-europe-live-world-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=1348","title":{"rendered":"EU calls for \u2018immediate\u2019 release of Jimmy Lai after \u2018politically motivated prosecution\u2019 \u2013 Europe live | World news"},"content":{"rendered":"


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EU calls for ‘immediate and unconditional’ release of Jimmy Lai after his jail sentence<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n

The European Union has called for the \u201cimmediate and unconditional\u201d release of the Hong Kong<\/a> pro-democracy figure, Jimmy Lai, after he was sentenced to 20 years in prison<\/strong>, the harshest penalty handed down for national security offences in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n

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In a strongly worded statement released just now<\/a>, a spokesperson for the EU\u2019s diplomatic service said the EU \u201cdeplores the heavy prison sentence\u201d and called for his immediate release, \u201calso in consideration of his advanced age and health condition.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added:<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe politically motivated prosecution<\/strong> of Jimmy Lai and the former Apple Daily executives and journalists harms Hong Kong\u2019s reputation.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The EU calls on the Hong Kong authorities to restore confidence in press freedom in Hong Kong<\/strong>, one of the pillars of its historic success as an international financial centre, and to stop prosecuting journalists.<\/strong>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n