The international legal team of detained Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and media mogul Jimmy Lai filed an urgent appeal with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on Thursday. The appeal alleges that Chinese authorities engaged in torture to extract incriminating evidence against Jimmy Lai from a key prosecution witness.
Lai is facing trial under the National Security Law (NSL), which started on December 18. The charges are for allegations that Lai had cajoled foreign entities to sanction both Chinese and Hong Kong governments and officials. The Hong Kong Government has said that commenting on the case while the trial is happening would be inappropriate.
Andy Li, the witness in question, has been detained by Chinese authorities since August 2020 and has reportedly been subject to physical abuse. A detailed report by the Washington Post indicated that Li’s conditions in detention were exceptionally harsh.
Adding to the appeal, Lai’s team cited reports from the US State Department and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, both highlighting concerns about human rights in China.
China, as a signatory to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, is obliged to carry out effective measures to prevent acts of torture. The country ratified the Convention in 1986 and 1988. Hong Kong is also a signatory to the Convention.