Running Afoul of the Thai Monarchy
Thailand’s strict lèse-majesté laws make it a crime to insult the monarchy, an offense that encompasses a surprising number of activities.
Under Thai law, it is illegal to defame, insult or threaten King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the queen or the crown prince.
But over the past decade, as the king has become infirm, the law has been used more extensively, leading to lengthy jail sentences for critics, and applied broadly to cover all sorts of speech, including graffiti, theater and private conversations.
Here are six recent cases that have ended in jail terms.