E𝗨 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗹'𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺 '𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻' 𝗣𝗿𝗼-𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗲𝘅-𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗿 𝗔𝘂 𝗞𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗼

Justice Abroad welcomes today's statements by the European Union and the Portuguese Government condemning the 'conviction' of pro-democracy ex-senator Mr Au Kam San, sentenced to 12 years and 6 months' imprisonment in Macao's first National Security Law prosecution.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻
In a statement by its Spokesperson, the EU said:
"The EU deplores the conviction and sentencing to 12 years and six months of former Macao lawmaker and EU citizen Au Kam San on 6 November. This first conviction under Macao's Safeguarding National Security Law since its adoption in 2009 confirms the erosion of political pluralism and freedom of speech in the Special Administrative Region. We regret that access for public, press and diplomats was restricted.
After his arrest on 30 July 2025, Au Kam San had spent almost one year in incommunicado detention.
The EU recalls that the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is a central element of the Macao Basic Law and 'one country, two systems'. It is essential that the protected rights and freedoms of Macao residents remain fully upheld in line with the Macao Basic Law, the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration of 1987 and Macao's commitments under the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights.
The EU, in cooperation with its Member States, will continue to closely monitor the human rights situation and fundamental freedoms in Macao."
𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗹
Portugal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Lusa:
"Hoje mesmo o Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros fez uma diligência e transmitiu às autoridades chinesas a posição de repúdio e séria preocupação de Portugal com a condenação do cidadão português Au Kam San (…) a uma pena de 12 anos e seis meses de prisão."
("Today the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a démarche and conveyed to the Chinese authorities Portugal's position of rejection and serious concern at the conviction of Portuguese citizen Au Kam San (…) to a sentence of 12 years and six months' imprisonment.")
Mr Au, 69, a Portuguese citizen and retired schoolteacher, was seized from his home on 30 July 2025, held incommunicado for almost a year, denied an independent lawyer and tried behind closed doors in a 'trial' lasting two days. Macao refused Portugal consular access, in breach of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Michael Polak, Director of Justice Abroad and Mr Au's international counsel, said:
"We welcome the clear statements from the European Union and Portugal. They confirm what we have said from the start: Mr Au has been convicted after a sham process that cannot be described as a trial in any meaningful sense. Statements of concern must now be followed by action. Portugal and the EU should demand that he be allowed to leave Macao and return