During the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, as part of debates on violations of human rights, democratic principles, and the rule of law, a discussion took place regarding the indictment and conviction of Jimmy Lai — the founder of the independent newspaper Apple Daily, a businessman, and one of Hong Kong’s most prominent defenders of freedom of speech, who has been the target of repression by the authorities of the People’s Republic of China for years. Mariusz Kamiński, a Law and Justice MEP and the initiator of the European Parliament’s resolution on this matter, spoke during the debate.
In his speech, the MEP referred to the symbolism of Tiananmen Square in 1989—the image of a lone man who stood in front of a column of tanks, becoming one of the most important symbols of the struggle for freedom in modern world history.
“Today is the year 2026, and once again a Chinese tank seeks to crush a lone rebel. That tank is the Chinese communist state, and that rebel is no longer an anonymous figure. It is Jimmy Lai—a defender of freedom of speech and fundamental human rights, which are being trampled by a brutal regime,” emphasized Mariusz Kamiński.
The co-author of the resolution recalled that Jimmy Lai has been held in prison for five years, and the life sentence he faces constitutes a flagrant violation of international human rights standards. He also drew attention to the prisoner of conscience’s age. “Jimmy Lai is 78 years old. Every additional year he spends behind bars could be his last. We will not stand for this,” he stated.
Mariusz Kamiński’s speech was an unequivocal appeal to the international community to respond firmly to the repression being carried out by the authorities of the People’s Republic of China against pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. “We demand freedom for Jimmy Lai!” the PiS MEP concluded his speech.
