Dutch parties call for release of Hong Kong media magnate Jimmy Lai

The Dutch Cabinet should join a call to release the Hong Kong media magnate Jimmy Lai, according to GroenLinks-PvdA, the VVD, and D66. Lai was the publisher of a widely read pro-democracy newspaper and is an outspoken critic of China, among other things.

Due to various legal cases, Lai has been locked up in solitary confinement since 2020. If he is found guilty in a new case, the 76-year-old media magnate could receive a life sentence. He is accused of “collusion with foreign powers.”

The Hong Kong High Court unanimously ruled on Monday that a conviction of Lai and six supporters of democracy in the semi-autonomous region will remain in place. The United States and the United Kingdom have long advocated for Lai’s release because they believe his sentence is politically motivated. The European Union and Canada have already joined that call.

The three Dutch parties point to restricted human rights in Hong Kong, such as freedom of expression. They want the Dutch Cabinet to urge the Chinese and Hong Kong governments to release Lai. They also believe that China's violations of international treaties should not go unmentioned.

Hong Kong has a special status within China, but the government in Beijing is increasingly trying to gain influence over the region. Critical movements have been suppressed since 2020 when a special "security law" was introduced.