“We think of these stories of saints that have withstood all this persecution as belonging to the Middle Ages,” said Bill McGurn, godfather of Jimmy Lai. “It’s going on right now, and we can see it.” / Credit: “EWTN News Nightly”/Screenshot

CNA Staff, Nov 21, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

After Catholic media mogul and human rights activist Jimmy Lai took the stand on Wednesday in a yearslong Hong Kong national security trial, Bill McGurn, Wall Street Journal columnist and godfather of Lai, told “EWTN News Nightly” that Lai is “a real champion of freedom.”

Lai, 76, was first arrested in August 2020 under China’s newly instituted Hong Kong national security law. Since his arrest, he has faced multiple trials and has been convicted on multiple charges of unlawful assembly and fraud. The allegations are widely condemned as politically motivated. 

McGurn, friend and godfather to Lai, told “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Tracy Sabol that Lai’s charisma on the stand worries the Hong Kong authorities. Lai has been in solitary confinement since his arrest in 2020.

“Today is the first time we’ve heard from Jimmy. The trial began in January,” McGurn told Sabol. “This is the first time we’ve heard his voice.”

On Wednesday Lai denied allegations of seditious activism as well as allegations that he had colluded with the then-U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. 

“Today was a big day because the pressure on Jimmy — like all the people arrested in Hong Kong for these political crimes — is to plead guilty,” McGurn explained. “But Jimmy doesn’t believe he did anything wrong. He’s correct in that. He wants to have his say in court, even if it’s biased against him.”

“The government hates that because Jimmy is obviously sincere. He’s very charismatic,” McGurn added. “He’s a real champion of freedom, and ordinary Hong Kong people appreciate that.”

Lai’s long-running Apple Daily newspaper was a pro-democratic voice in Hong Kong media. Hong Kong authorities froze the company’s assets, forcing the newspaper to close. 

McGurn said that “Jimmy Lai is being singled out because he owned a newspaper that tried to tell the truth about what’s going on in Hong Kong.”

“They treat him like he’s this great threat, and he’s a newspaper man. He does what ordinary publishers do. He talks to leaders all the time,” McGurn said.

“The government exposed what a thin case they have,” McGurn continued. “Now they’re worried because he’s so charismatic: What’s he going to say on the stand? Even without a script, Jimmy is very eloquent and very persuasive when he talks about freedom.”

When asked how the family is doing, McGurn cited the strength of Lai’s wife, Teresa. Lai joined the Catholic Church in 1997 with the support of Teresa, whom he married in 1991.

“His whole family is suffering from this. His wife, Teresa, is a rock — just a rock of faith,” McGurn said. “Jimmy draws strength from her because she has her husband in jail and her three kids scattered around the world, and she’s keeping it all together.”

McGurn calls it all “a real inspiration.”

“We think of these stories of saints that have withstood all this persecution as belonging to the Middle Ages,” he said. “It’s going on right now, and we can see it.” 

Cardinal Zen stands with him

McGurn noted that Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze–Kiun attended the trial, sitting with Lai’s family. Zen also attended the sentencing of 45 other pro-democracy activists on Tuesday. 

“It must have really lifted [Lai’s] spirits,” McGurn said. “It’s a tremendous thing.”

In the United States, Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, among others, has been outspoken about support for Lai.

“How sad it is how they have mistreated this great man of principle,” Smith said on Capitol Hill. “He could have left any time he wanted, given his wealth. He wanted to fight for his fellow friends and citizens in Hong Kong. For that — for speaking truth to power in a dictatorship — he is being very, very much maligned and unfortunately hurt by the judicial, corrupt system.”

When asked what he thought about Smith’s comment, McGurn said: “He’s absolutely right.” 

“As Congressman Smith pointed out, he could have run away. He has houses all over the world, but he stood and went to jail for his principles,” McGurn said.