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<p>A man in Thailand has been jailed for a record 50 years for criticising the monarchy, the news agency AFP reported on Thursday (Jan 18) citing a legal rights group. According to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), an appeal court in the northern city of Chiang Rai sentenced Mongkol Thirakot to 50 years over posts on his Facebook account. Thirakot, 30, is a former pro-democracy activist and owns an online clothing store.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Thirakot was initially sentenced to 28 years in prison by a lower criminal court. But he was found guilty on 11 more counts during his appeal, which led to a longer sentence.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Previous record prison sentence was 43 yrs</h2>

<p>"The appeal court sentenced Mongkol Thirakot to 22 years for 112 over his 27 Facebook posts, in addition to the 28-year sentence already passed by the preliminary court. His total jail sentence is 50 years," the TLHR said on Thursday.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-traces-of-new-deadly-bat-virus-which-can-infect-humans-found-inside-cave-says-report-679874">Thailand: Traces of new deadly bat virus which can infect humans found inside cave, says report</a></strong></p>

<p>Often referred to as 112, the lese-majeste law shields King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family from criticism. The legal rights group said this was the longest prison sentence given for royal defamation, beating the previous record of 43 years imposed on a woman in 2021.</p>

<h2><strong>Thirakot was first arrested in 2021</strong></h2>

<p>According to the AFP report,<strong>&nbsp;</strong>Thirakot was first arrested in 2021 during a protest demanding the release of political prisoners. The TLHR said that the 30-year-old would apply for an appeal against the sentence at the Supreme Court.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Thailand threatens Facebook with legal action over alleged scams</strong></p>

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<p>Over 250 activists have been charged under the lese-majeste laws since the 2020 protests against the government of then prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the legal rights group further said. The protests, which went on till 2021, expanded to include the unprecedented demands for reform of the monarchy.</p>

<p>Thirakot's arrest comes after lawyer Arnon Nampa, one of the main protest leaders, had his four-year lese-majeste sentence increased by another four years.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A man in Thailand has been jailed for a record 50 years for criticising the monarchy, the news agency AFP reported on Thursday (Jan 18) citing a legal rights group.

A man in Thailand has been jailed for a record 50 years for criticising the monarchy, the news agency AFP reported on Thursday (Jan 18) citing a legal rights group. According to the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), an appeal court in the northern city of Chiang Rai sentenced Mongkol Thirakot to 50 years over posts on his Facebook account. Thirakot, 30, is a former pro-democracy activist and owns an online clothing store. Thirakot was initially sentenced to 28 years in prison by a lower criminal court. But he was found guilty on 11 more counts during his appeal, which led to a longer sentence. Previous record prison sentence was 43 yrs "The appeal court sentenced Mongkol Thirakot to 22 years for 112 over his 27 Facebook posts, in addition to the 28-year sentence already passed by the preliminary court. His total jail sentence is 50 years," the TLHR said on Thursday. Also read | Thailand: Traces of new deadly bat virus which can infect humans found inside cave, says report Often referred to as 112, the lese-majeste law shields King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family from criticism. The legal rights group said this was the longest prison sentence given for royal defamation, beating the previous record of 43 years imposed on a woman in 2021. Thirakot was first arrested in 2021 According to the AFP report, Thirakot was first arrested in 2021 during a protest demanding the release of political prisoners. The TLHR said that the 30-year-old would apply for an appeal against the sentence at the Supreme Court. Also watch | Thailand threatens Facebook with legal action over alleged scams × Over 250 activists have been charged under the lese-majeste laws since the 2020 protests against the government of then prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the legal rights group further said. The protests, which went on till 2021, expanded to include the unprecedented demands for reform of the monarchy. Thirakot's arrest comes after lawyer Arnon Nampa, one of the main protest leaders, had his four-year lese-majeste sentence increased by another four years. (With inputs from agencies)

Thailand: Man jailed for record 50 years for criticising the monarchy

<p>A political activist was sentenced to 28 years in prison by a court in Thailand on Thursday for posting messages on Facebook that it believed insulted the country’s monarchy. A court in the northern city of Chiang Rai found Mongkol Tirakote guilty in two separate royal defamation cases.</p>

<p>The 29-year-old, an online clothing vendor and activist, was found to have violated the lese majeste law in 14 of 27 posts and was arrested for the same last August. The law, considered among the harshest in the world, covers the current king, his queen and heirs, and any regent and carries a prison term of three to 15 years per incident.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-activist-jailed-for-two-years-accused-of-mocking-thai-queen-at-a-protest-515791">Thailand: Activist jailed for 2 years for mocking queen by dressing like her at protest</a></p>

<p>Critics say that the law is often misused to suppress public debate. In 2020, student-led pro-democracy protests criticized the monarchy. Vigorous prosecutions followed under the law, something that was rarely done previously.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His prison sentence was originally 42 years but it was reduced following his testimony, his lawyer told AFP. His lawyer further informed that Mongkol will lodge an appeal against the order and the court has granted him bail of 300,000 baht ($9,100).</p>

<p>Mongkol also faces a third, separate royal defamation charge over online posts from last year and will be back in court in March.</p>

<p>Human Rights Watch senior researcher Sunai Phasuk said this wsa the second-highest prison term handed down by a Thai court for a royal defamation case.</p>

<p>In 2021, a record 43-year sentence was handed to a woman identified only as Anchan for insulting the monarchy. Her sentence was originally 87 years and she remains in prison.</p>

<p>According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, at least 228 people have been charged with violating the law since November 2020. This includes 18 minors.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A political activist was sentenced to 28 years in prison by a court in Thailand on Thursday for posting messages on Facebook that it believed insulted the country’s monarchy.

A political activist was sentenced to 28 years in prison by a court in Thailand on Thursday for posting messages on Facebook that it believed insulted the country’s monarchy. A court in the northern city of Chiang Rai found Mongkol Tirakote guilty in two separate royal defamation cases. The 29-year-old, an online clothing vendor and activist, was found to have violated the lese majeste law in 14 of 27 posts and was arrested for the same last August. The law, considered among the harshest in the world, covers the current king, his queen and heirs, and any regent and carries a prison term of three to 15 years per incident. Also Read | Thailand: Activist jailed for 2 years for mocking queen by dressing like her at protest Critics say that the law is often misused to suppress public debate. In 2020, student-led pro-democracy protests criticized the monarchy. Vigorous prosecutions followed under the law, something that was rarely done previously. His prison sentence was originally 42 years but it was reduced following his testimony, his lawyer told AFP. His lawyer further informed that Mongkol will lodge an appeal against the order and the court has granted him bail of 300,000 baht ($9,100). Mongkol also faces a third, separate royal defamation charge over online posts from last year and will be back in court in March. Human Rights Watch senior researcher Sunai Phasuk said this wsa the second-highest prison term handed down by a Thai court for a royal defamation case. In 2021, a record 43-year sentence was handed to a woman identified only as Anchan for insulting the monarchy. Her sentence was originally 87 years and she remains in prison. According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, at least 228 people have been charged with violating the law since November 2020. This includes 18 minors. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Man sentenced to 28 years in prison for 'insulting' Thai monarchy

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Thailand: Man jailed for record 50 years for criticising the monarchy

Man sentenced to 28 years in prison for 'insulting' Thai monarchy