Jimmy Lai's Daughter Urges China to Spare her Father from Becoming a 'Martyr'

The daughter of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, who was convicted of national security charges, has warned China against turning her father into a 'martyr' if he dies in prison. Claire Lai, 29, expressed concern over her father's health and treatment in a Washington interview. Jimmy Lai, 78, was found guilty on all three charges and faces life in prison. His daughter, who left Hong Kong earlier this year, claimed that he has been subjected to solitary confinement in harsh conditions, lost significant weight, and been denied proper medical care. The Hong Kong government has dismissed reports of Lai's treatment as 'fact-twisting.' However, Claire Lai stated that the government failed to refute any of the health concerns she raised. She appealed to authorities to allow her father to receive medical care from his chosen doctors and to consider releasing him. Lai, a British citizen, founded the Apple Daily tabloid, which championed democracy in Hong Kong. The United States has not commented on the sentence, but President Donald Trump has previously expressed hope for securing Lai's release. Claire Lai described her father as a 'good man' who loves God, the truth, and his family, and urged China to show compassion and release him.