Three human rights organizations have condemned the conviction of activist Mongkhon Thirakot, who was sentenced to 50 years in prison for royal defamation and demand the immediate release of Mongkhon and other detained activists. They also endorsed the call for the repeal of the royal defamation, or lèse-majesté, law.

<p>The conviction of Narin, who was <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/9727">sentenced last Friday</a> (4 March 2022) to 3 years in prison on a royal defamation charge for putting a sticker over a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn,&nbsp;demonstrates the government&rsquo;s intensifying targeting of individuals and allies of the pro-democratic movement, said FoRUM-ASIA, CIVICUS, and Asia Democracy Network, who call for the repeal of the royal defamation law and the immediate release of everyone detained under this law.</p>

<p>As Thailand&rsquo;s human rights record is examined at the Human Rights Council on 11 November 2021, CIVICUS and the Asia Democracy Network (ADN) call on UN member states to raise serious concerns about Thailand&rsquo;s civic freedoms.</p>