Rome: Former Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, who has been in maximum security detention for nearly five years, is reportedly in "poor health," according to his son Sebastien Lai. Sebastien urged the international community to intervene and save his father's life.

According to Focus Taiwan, Sebastien Lai welcomed a recent statement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has indicated he may discuss Jimmy Lai's case at an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "When we heard this, of course we were very happy," Sebastien said, emphasizing that Trump grasps the seriousness of his father's situation.

Sebastien expressed hope for his father's release "as soon as possible." Jimmy Lai, 78, is the founder of Next Digital Ltd., known for publishing the Apple Daily, a newspaper that authorities in Hong Kong accused of inciting anti-government protests and challenging Chinese sovereignty. Lai was initially arrested in August 2020 following the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law and was detained again in December 2020. He has been held in Hong Kong since then.

Sebastien Lai highlighted his father's deteriorating health during an event at the Italian Senate, stating, "This is not only about the issue of freedom. It is also one life that needs to be saved." Jimmy Lai's Catholic faith was also noted, with his wife Teresa and daughter Claire attending a public audience with Pope Leo XIV on October 15, a gesture Sebastien described as significant, implying Vatican awareness of Jimmy Lai's plight.

The Italian Senate event, which Sebastien spoke at, was organized by former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and current senator Giulio Terzi. It featured participation from Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU) Secretary-General Eleonora Mongelli, Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) UK and Europe Director Mark Sabah, and King's Counsel (KC) Caoilfhionn Gallagher, who leads Lai's legal team.

During the event, Sebastien described his father's solitary confinement as a tactic intended to convey isolation, but he countered, "Obviously that is not the case. His case has moved multiple people -- many, many people -- around the world."

He revealed that a verdict in his father's case is expected "in the coming weeks," urging immediate action. Sebastien noted that countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, and Australia have advocated for his father's release, and he expressed hope that Italy would join these "like-minded countries" in calling for Jimmy Lai's "immediate and unconditional release."