Former prisoners and hostages who were wrongly held abroad have called on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to urgently secure the release of pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai before he potentially dies in a Hong Kong jail. Aged 77 and a British citizen, Lai has been in solitary confinement for 1,602 days, with his family fearing he may not survive another summer due to Hong Kong’s high temperatures of up to 40C (104F).
A letter, signed by 22 individuals who were detained abroad and their family members, was sent to Starmer urging him to act before it’s too late. Among the signatories are Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Jason Rezaian, who were held in Iran, Matthew Hedges, who was imprisoned in the UAE, and others released in a prisoner swap with Russia. The signatories, who all have personal experiences with wrongful detention, emphasize the necessity of robust, principled action from the UK government to resolve such cases and bring British citizens home.
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, the international legal counsel for Lai and his son Jimmy, highlighted the “outrageous foot dragging” in Lai’s case, which involves charges under Hong Kong’s controversial national security law. Initially meant to last 30 days, the case has been severely delayed, with the current six-month pause pushing closing submissions to August.
Richard Ratcliffe, whose wife Zaghari-Ratcliffe was released from Iran, criticized the government for not prioritizing the protection of its citizens from torture, injustice, and the risk of death.
Emotional testimonies and pleas for Starmer’s intervention were also provided by those who experienced or witnessed detention firsthand. The signatories recommend that Starmer promptly meet with Lai’s son to address the matter.
Gallagher emphasized that bilateral discussions alone are insufficient; the UK government must convey a clear message to the Chinese authorities about the consequences if they do not engage in Lai’s release. A UK government spokesperson confirmed Lai’s case as a priority and called for the end of his politically motivated prosecution and immediate release.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/former-prisoners-and-hostages-urge-starmer-to-secure-release-of-jimmy-lai
