Lee Hsien Yang, the son of Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, announced on Tuesday that he has been granted political asylum in the U.K. Lee, who is estranged from his brother,

former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, described himself as a "political refugee" after seeking protection from what he alleges is persecution in Singapore.

The brothers have been embroiled in a public feud since 2017 over their late father's family home. Lee Hsien Yang has accused the Singaporean government of targeting him and his family, stating that authorities have prosecuted his son, initiated disciplinary actions against his wife, and launched a prolonged police investigation against him.

In a Facebook post, Lee revealed that he applied for asylum in 2022, describing it as a "last resort" due to the government's actions against him. "The U.K. has determined that I face a well-founded risk of persecution and cannot safely return to Singapore," he wrote. Despite this, he expressed his hope of one day returning home, while remaining a Singapore citizen.

In an interview with The Guardian, Lee criticized the Singaporean government, accusing it of enabling money laundering and urging the international community to scrutinize Singapore’s role in illicit financial activities. "There is a need for the world to look more closely at Singapore's involvement in arms trades, dirty money, drug money, and crypto-related transactions," he said.

In response, the Singaporean government issued a statement refuting Lee's allegations, emphasizing that the country has strong measures to combat money laundering, consistent with global standards. The government reiterated that no one, including members of the founding prime minister's family, is exempt from the law.

The feud between the Lee siblings escalated when Lee Hsien Yang and his late sister, Lee Wei Ling, accused their elder brother of abusing his power to prevent the demolition of their father's family home, as per Lee Kuan Yew's wishes. The conflict also led to investigations into Lee Hsien Yang and his wife for allegedly providing false testimony related to Lee Kuan Yew’s will.

Lee Hsien Loong stepped down as Singapore's prime minister in May 2024, after two decades in power. He passed leadership to his deputy, Lawrence Wong, but continues to hold a senior ministerial position in the Cabinet. The U.K. Home Office has not yet commented on Lee Hsien Yang's asylum case.