The U.S. State Department on Tuesday voiced serious concern over the arrest of American academic Paul Chambers in Thailand, where he faces charges of insulting the monarchy under the country’s strict lese-majeste law.
Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University in northern Thailand, turned himself in after police issued an arrest warrant last week. He is accused of violating Section 112 of the Thai penal code, which criminalises defamation or insult against the king, queen, heir, or regent — carrying a penalty of three to 15 years in prison.
He was also charged under Thailand’s Computer Crime Act, though details were not immediately released.
“This case reinforces our longstanding concerns about the use of lese majeste laws in Thailand,” the U.S. State Department said, adding it would monitor the case closely and advocate for Chambers’ fair treatment. “We continue to urge Thai authorities to respect freedom of expression and ensure laws are not used to stifle permitted expression.”
A lawyer for Chambers denied all charges and said the case stemmed from promotional material for an academic seminar held last year, where Chambers was listed as a speaker. The blurb, published by an overseas research institute, allegedly triggered a complaint from the Thai army.
Prosecutions under the lese-majeste law have surged in recent years, with critics warning the statute is used to suppress dissent and academic freedom. Royalists defend it as vital to national unity.
Thailand, a U.S. treaty ally, has drawn international criticism for its application of the law, particularly in cases involving political expression or academic discourse.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Fra...
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's f...
Since 2021, only 9 per cent of $8 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan can be traced beyond initial recipients in public re...
The U.S. has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth an estimated $2.1 billion, but Kyiv could face years of delays before receiving the weapons it urgently needs to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has ordered Iran's armed forces to respond to any threat immediately and without geographical limits in statements posted to social media platforms on Saturday (31 October).
Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags and placards supporting the hijab gathered outside the Azerbaijani Embassy in London.
A Chinese-made AI chip has matched Nvidia’s H200 in tests conducted by its developer, marking a potential breakthrough in China’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign technology.
A hacking group linked to North Korea is widely believed to be behind the theft of $6.3 billion from cryptocurrency giant Binance, a cyberattack that experts describe as the largest cryptocurrency heist on record.
Gen Z protests swept 34 German cities on Saturday (31 October) over education, living costs and military service proposals. Violence erupted in Frankfurt, where shops were looted and police reported Molotov cocktail attacks.
Iran designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations on Sunday, (1 November), and classified the country's foreign intelligence agency, MI6, as a hostile group, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Thousands protested in Albania's capital, Tirana, on Saturday (31 October), demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over perceived corruption allegations and dissatisfaction with the government over a lack of jobs and poor education standards.
Russia has agreed to work with Ghana on developing a 2,000-megawatt nuclear power plant following talks at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said on Saturday.
Foreign ministers from the U.S., Japan, Australia and India raised concerns over export restrictions and economic coercion at a Quad meeting in Atlanta, U.S., on Saturday, 31 October 2026, according to their joint statement.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment