Feeling abandoned by Britain Five arbitrarily held for years

Jimmy Lai Hong Kong
Later and he was held on remand. That rolled into a sentence for "unlawful assembly" convictions related to the 2019 protests and Tiananmen massacre vigils. He is now serving another sentence of more than five years for a lease violation, which critics have called a trumped-up charge designed to keep him behind bars.
The 76-year-old activist is being held in solitary confinement, where his lawyers say he sees daylight only through windows in the corridor outside his cell and is taken out once a day for an hour's exercise. The committed Catholic has not received communion while detained, which his son, Sebastien, describes as "petty".
His trial resumed last week after multiple delays and government interventions, including efforts to bar a UK lawyer, Timothy Owen, from representing him. He is facing a life sentence if convicted, but even a few extra years are of concern for Lai. "He's not doing well, unfortunately," said Sebastien Lai, who is lobbying western governments to help release his father. "His health has gotten much worse, and he was too sick to go to court a few months ago."
Lai is a full UK citizen who has only ever held English papers. Receiving British national (overseas) status was "the first time any state recognised him as a person", said his son.
But he and others say the UK government's support has been "ridiculously" lacking, far behind those of other countries such as the US, Canada and Australia, which have lobbied for him.
"It took two years before [the UK] started asking for consular access," said Mark Sabah, the director of the London-based Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong. "Two years before they even said his name at the dispatch box."
Sebastien Lai said Lammy's call for Lai's release while on a visit to China last month was welcome, but he wanted his father's case raised in all government engagements with Beijing.
Denne historien er fra November 26, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 26, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på

Trump Will Decide on Iran Attack 'Within Two Weeks'
Donald Trump set a two-week deadline yesterday to decide whether the US will join Israel's war with Iran, allowing time for a negotiated end to the conflict, the White House said.

'I forgot everyone' Ukrainian soldier tells of three years in Russian prison
Despite all they have endured, it does not take much to draw shy smiles from Diana Shikot, 24, and Dmytro Chorny, 23.

From Spree to Seine Wild swimmers take the plunge in urban European rivers
The last time there was full-scale river swimming in Berlin's city centre, before access was outlawed a century ago, there were probably fewer inflatable unicorns and fluorescent pool noodles.

They're arch-terrorists' Netanyahu invokes old debts to justify new war
It was in Beersheba, about 1,000km and 2,500 years from Babylon, that Benjamin Netanyahu suggested yesterday that the time had come for the Jews to repay their ancient debt to Cyrus the Great and bring liberation to Iran.
How company quietly took more of your fare and workers' earnings with new algorithm
Drivers described their days as being controlled by sophisticated computer code which left them unclear how much Uber would take

‘We must be smarter’ Stokes calls on England to learn from weaknesses
As India Test series begins, captain reveals his team are working on new approach for when they are 'up against wall
UK 'behind the curve' on assisted dying, says MP
The UK is \"behind the curve\" on assisted dying among progressive nations, the bill's sponsor, Kim Leadbeater, has said before one of the most consequential votes for social change in England and Wales.

'Normal' Palmer in control from No 10
Modest 23-year-old still likes PlayStation and has taken Hazard's old shirt as Chelsea prepare for Flamengo
Maresca Has Not Spoken to Mudryk About Doping Charge
Enzo Maresca has said he has not spoken to Mykhailo Mudryk since the Football Association announced on Wednesday that the Chelsea winger has been charged with doping offences.
New law requires Rio hospitals to display anti-abortion signs
A law has just come into force in Rio de Janeiro requiring all public hospitals and clinics run by the municipal government to display anti-abortion signs with messages such as: \"Did you know that the unborn child is discarded as hospital waste?\"