Jimmy Lai, Apple Daily’s owner, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison due to national security offenses. Apple Daily is a pro-democratic newspaper that was created solely by Jimmy Lai. Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, has said that his father’s sentence is a “death sentence” because his father is 78, making him 98 when he is released. Sebastien Lai is angry at the police because Jimmy Lai has given so much to Hong Kong. Sebastien Lai knows how much his father has given to Beijing and Hong Kong, with his democratic efforts that helped the democratic party. Sebastien thinks that a man that has given so much for his country deserves something in return. According to CNN, United States President Donald Trump has asked China’s President Xi Jinping to release Jimmy Lai, which Jinping is considering.

The Hong Kong High Court found evidence that Lai used Apple Daily to help foreign efforts to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and China. Lai was a “thorn in Beijing’s side” as he was arguing for the democratic party while Beijing is part of the Chinese communist party. Lai was in solitary confinement for five years before his 20 year sentence was put into place. In solitary confinement, Lai lost about 22 pounds in his first year.

Many people agree with Sebastien Lai’s point of view as he finds his fathers jail time to be a death sentence. According to the BBC, Claire Lai, Jimmy Lai’s daughter, has also gone on campaign for her father to be released. Claire Lai claims to want him to be released because of his decline in health from being in solitary confinement for only a year with four years still on the way.

While Jimmy Lai isn’t confirmed dead or even confirmed that he will stay in prison, time will tell what will happen to him and his family.