US academic arrested in Thailand for insulting monarchy – DW – 04/08/2025
www.dw.com
Thailand has one of the world's strictest laws against criticizing the country's powerful monarchy. Foreigners are very rarely charged under the law, which prescribes up to 15 years in prison for those found guilty.

Summary

Thai police arrested US academic Paul Chambers on charges of insulting the monarchy and violating computer crime laws, linked to remarks made during an online seminar.

Chambers, a political science professor at Naresuan University, was summoned after a complaint by the Thai Army.

He denied the charges and was denied bail, with no trial date set. Thailand enforces strict lèse-majesté laws under Article 112, carrying up to 15 years in prison.

  • HiroProtagonistEnglish
    101·
    15 days ago

    I couldn’t agree more. I have been to Thailand several times and make it a point even among Thai you consider as friends to just never discuss the Monarchy. I made the mistake of bad mouthing the Pope once in the Philippines.

    • El Barto@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      15 days ago

      Hardcore Catholics are hardcore.

      Having said that, as someone who grew up Catholic, let me tell you FUCK THE POPE AND THE VATICAN AS A WHOLE!

      • HiroProtagonistEnglish
        4·
        15 days ago

        Yeah I agree with you, the person who scolded me was super progressive and gay. I am not often shocked.