Catholic Bishop Urges UK Government to Secure Release of Jimmy Lai

Bishop James Curry, the lead bishop for religious freedom for the Catholic Church in England and Wales, has formally requested that Prime Minister Andy Burnham intervene to secure the release of Jimmy Lai. Lai, a British citizen and prominent pro-democracy advocate in Hong Kong, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence following convictions for conspiring with foreign forces and publishing seditious material.

Bishop Curry highlighted concerns regarding Lai’s treatment, noting that the businessman is held in solitary confinement and lacks access to the sacraments. The bishop stated that Lai’s health is deteriorating and characterized his imprisonment as a response to his peaceful protests and journalistic criticism of national security laws.

Lai’s family has previously shared that he turned to the Catholic faith during the 1997 handover of Hong Kong, finding comfort in God’s mercy. In his statement, Bishop Curry urged the Prime Minister to take action on behalf of the British citizen and called upon the public to offer prayers for Lai’s well-being.