In a significant ruling on Thursday, a Hong Kong court has denied a request from prominent activist and jailed publisher Jimmy Lai for a jury trial in his ongoing libel case against the pro-Beijing newspaper Ta Kung Pao. This decision marks yet another setback for Lai, who has faced a series of legal challenges since the enactment of the controversial national security law.

Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, is well-known as one of Hong Kong's leading pro-democracy voices. Since Beijing's severe crackdown on dissent in the city, he has been subject to heightened scrutiny and attacks from state-affiliated media outlets. The libel suit was initiated by Lai in 2020 after Ta Kung Pao published an article alleging that he was planning to flee Hong Kong and violate the terms of his bail.

In her judgment, Judge Queeny Au Yeung stated that the nature of the case requires extensive examination of evidence and documents, making it unsuitable for a jury trial. She emphasized that allowing certain questions to be answered by a jury while leaving others for the trial judge was not feasible.

The article that sparked the libel case was titled “Leaders who create chaos in Hong Kong plotting escape, escape route exposed, charge one million dollars" and suggested that Lai was a suspect in a plot to evade justice. The newspaper has denied the allegations of libel.

Lai’s legal troubles have compounded since the imposition of the national security law in 2020, which has led to the arrest of numerous activists, with many fleeing into exile or remaining silent. The shutdown of Apple Daily in June 2021, following the arrests of its senior executives, signaled a significant decline in press freedoms in Hong Kong and was viewed as a violation of the liberties promised during the city’s handover from British rule in 1997.

The activist’s difficulties continued in his national security trial, where he faced additional setbacks, including the dismissal of an attempt to throw out a sedition charge. Next month, he is set to testify in his defense against these severe allegations.

Currently serving over five years in prison following a conviction for fraud, Lai's political and legal battles have drawn international attention and condemnation. Both the United States and United Kingdom governments have publicly called for his release, arguing that the security law undermines the autonomy and rights previously guaranteed to Hong Kong.

As Lai's struggles continue, the global community watches closely, raising concerns about the implications for democracy, free speech, and human rights in Hong Kong. The question remains: how much longer can this brave activist endure the pressure of a system that seeks to silence dissent?