Thai court jails man for 18 months over royal Facebook comment, rights group says (opens original article in a new tab)

A Thai court sentenced a man to 18 months in prison for a royal defamation comment on Facebook, highlighting the country's strict lese-majeste law that criminalizes criticism of the monarchy.

• A Thai man was jailed for 18 months for a royal defamation comment on Facebook
• Thailand's lese-majeste law allows up to 15 years in prison for royal criticism
• At least 17 people have been prosecuted for comments in the 'Royalist Marketplace' Facebook group
• 291 people charged under royal insult law since 2020