Italy calls for the release of media owner and pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai
The Italian Government has joined the international call for Jimmy Lai’s immediate release, following a meeting last night between Sebastien Lai, Jimmy Lai’s son, and Italy’s Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, Davide Dionisi.
“It is necessary to work, also in international forums, using the tools of politics and diplomacy, to put an end to Jimmy Lai's suffering. He has been in prison since December 2020 for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression,” said Dionisi on the sidelines of the meeting with Sebastian Lai. “The Foreign Ministry will play its part.”
Jimmy Lai
Mr Lai is a 77-year-old British citizen and renowned pro-democracy campaigner, media entrepreneur, and writer. He is currently imprisoned in Hong Kong, and has been detained continuously since December 2020. He has faced multiple prosecutions, including for alleged sedition and alleged conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the controversial Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong and Special Administrative Region (“NSL”). The closing submissions in the NSL trial concluded on August 28 2025 and a verdict is awaited. If convicted, Mr Lai could be sentenced to life imprisonment. Given his age and state of health, it is feared that this would mean Mr Lai dying in prison.
Last year, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled that Mr Lai is unlawfully and arbitrarily detained, calling for his immediate release. Five UN Special Rapporteurs have also joined a statement calling for Mr Lai’s immediate and unconditional release. The UK, US, Australian and Canadian governments have also called for his release, as has the European Union and Roman Catholic leaders; and resolutions calling for his release have been passed in the European and Canadian Parliaments.
The meeting with the Special Envoy was arranged by the Bussola/ Daily Compass. Prior to the meeting, Sebastien Lai also met with the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Mr Lorenzo Fontana, who expressed his full support.
Responses
Sebastien Lai welcomed Italy’s stance, stating:
“I am very grateful that Italy has joined the international call to free my father. He has already spent almost five years in prison, in solitary confinement, in punishment for his courage, his journalism and his peaceful campaigning for democracy.
The Chinese and Hong Kong authorities must release him before it’s too late.”
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, who leads the international legal team for Jimmy Lai and Sebastien Lai, added:
“We welcome the Special Envoy’s support and confirmation that Italy is seeking Jimmy Lai’s release. He is a prisoner of conscience who should never have spent a single day in prison, let alone half a decade.
There is now a clear international consensus from multiple Governments, the European Union, United Nations experts, press freedom organisations and Roman Catholic leaders: it is long past time to free Jimmy Lai. And there must be clear consequences for China and Hong Kong if they fail to do so.”
The international legal team for Jimmy Lai and Sebastien Lai is led by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC (Associate) and includes Jonathan Price KC, Tatyana Eatwell, Jennifer Robinson and Martha Spurrier (Associate).
A press release from the Free Jimmy Lai campaign about this news is available here and the full statement of the Special Envoy, in Italian and English, is available here.
Davide Dionisi (L), Italian Special Envoy for the promotion of religious freedom and the protection of religious minorities worldwide, with Sebastien Lai (R), son of Jimmy Lai. Photograph by Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC.
