The Rights Practice

Disturbed by reports of yet another human rights lawyer in #China sentenced to imprisonment. Last week Xie Yang received a five year prison term for "inciting subversion of state power" in a hearing which took place without the presence of his lawyers. Xie has been repeatedly targeted in the past decade because of his peaceful work in defence of human rights @ChinaMissionGva

[NEW RESEARCH] In 2022, ICJR surveyed 204 lawyers on the death penalty in Indonesia. The findings reveal a vast gap between rights guaranteed by law and what actually happens in the courtroom. See the data ⬇️⬇️ #DeathPenalty #CriminalLaw #CriminalProcedure

3/ The Working Group renders the following opinion: The deprivation of liberty of Mr. Xie Yang, being in contravention of articles 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 19, 20 and 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is arbitrary and falls within categories I, II, III and V.

2/ "The Working Group is concerned that this might indicate a widespread or systemic practice of arbitrary detention in the country. The Working Group underlines that States have the obligation not to engage in acts that could constitute crimes against humanity & to prevent them"

1/ UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - Opinion Concerning Chinese human rights lawyer Xie Yang: "In recent years, the Working Group has found China in violation of its international human rights obligations in numerous cases." ohchr.org/sites/default/…

ADPAN is proud to highlight the KL Guidelines, a landmark human rights framework designed to ensure effective legal representation and systemic protection for individuals facing the death penalty. Access it here: klguidelines.com

This comprehensive tool is the result of dedicated collaboration between civil society organizations, led by @PusatRakyatLB and its regional partners, with support from @RightsPractice.

BREAKING❗ According to his family, Changsha Intermediate Court today sentenced lawyer #XieYang to 5 years for “inciting subversion” after secret trials and arbitrary detention extensions. He has been detained since Jan 2022. tenchu.org/pocd/public/po… #FreeXieYang

The Rights Practice, along with 25 other CSOs, call on UN Human Rights Chief to use his 27 February address to Human Rights Council to detail his office’s efforts to investigate alleged Chinese government crimes against humanity. tinyurl.com/muabfeyu @CHRDnet @UNHumanRights

祝所有人权捍卫者及家属们新年快乐

#China #HongKongSAR — Disturbed that HK Court has sentenced Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison under national security law. In December 2025, I joined colleagues to express disappointment at Lai's conviction and called for his immediate release from prison on humanitarian grounds. ohchr.org/en/press-relea…

#HongKong: @volker_turk deplores the 20-year jail sentence handed down today against Jimmy Lai. The UN Human Rights Office is concerned that the verdict criminalises the exercise of protected freedom of expression, including media freedoms & association. It needs to be promptly quashed as incompatible with international law. Türk appeals for Jimmy Lai’s immediate release on humanitarian grounds, given his advanced age, health, and the impact of the more than four years he has already spent in detention. ohchr.org/en/press-relea…

.@volker_turk deplores the 20-year jail sentence handed down against Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-closed newspaper Apple Daily, on charges brought under the national security legislation in Hong Kong SAR. “I appeal for Jimmy Lai’s immediate release on humanitarian grounds."

Hong Kong: The EU urges Jimmy Lai’s immediate and unconditional release, and calls on Hong Kong authorities to restore press freedom and end the prosecution of journalists.  link.europa.eu/4fBjQQ

"I remain deeply concerned for Mr Lai’s health, and I again call on Hong Kong authorities to end his appalling ordeal and release him on humanitarian grounds, so that he may be reunited with his family."

UK Foreign Secretary: British National Jimmy Lai was today sentenced to 20 years in prison in HK for exercising his right to freedom of expression, following a politically motivated prosecution. tinyurl.com/w97hdn47

The Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday condemned the 20-year prison sentence handed down to publisher Jimmy Lai, the founder of now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, in Hong Kong’s biggest media trial. “The rule of law has been completely shattered in Hong Kong,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg. “Today’s egregious decision is the final nail in the coffin for freedom of the press in Hong Kong. The international community must step up its pressure to free Jimmy Lai if we want press freedom to be respected anywhere in the world.” Read more: cpj.org/2026/02/jimmy-…

The harsh 20-year sentence against 78-year-old Jimmy Lai is effectively a death sentence. A sentence of this magnitude is both cruel and profoundly unjust. @hrw @PearsonElaine

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai is set to be sentenced over national security charges: Live: hongkongfp.com/2026/02/09/jim… Matthias Kauffman, Deputy Head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao, arrived with other consulate officials at the courthouse at around 8.40am to witness proceedings. Kauffman said that his office had been observing trials in which activists and advocates had been prosecuted under national security legislation to "signal our interest" in such cases.

BREAKING: Jimmy Lai jailed for 20 years in Hong Kong after nat. security conviction. In full: hongkongfp.com/2026/02/09/bre…