Thai man gets 35 years jail in harshest punishment yet for insulting royal family on facebook

A very serious and controversial topic.

According to reports, a 34-year-old Thai man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison, the harshest punishment yet, for insulting the royal family on Facebook. The man, identified as Anchan Preelert, was found guilty of violating Thailand's strict lese majeste law, which criminalizes any criticism or insult towards the monarch or the royal family.

Anchan was arrested in 2015 after posting comments on Facebook that were deemed offensive to the royal family. The comments were reportedly made in a private conversation with a friend, but were later shared publicly, which led to his arrest.

Under Thailand's lese majeste law, anyone found guilty of insulting the royal family can face up to 15 years in prison per offense. In Anchan's case, the court deemed his comments to be "serious" and "repeated" offenses, leading to the 35-year sentence.

Human rights groups and free speech advocates have criticized the sentence, saying it is an example of Thailand's overly broad and restrictive laws that stifle freedom of expression. The case has also sparked concerns about the government's use of the lese majeste law to silence dissent and criticism.

The Thai government has defended the law, saying it is necessary to protect the monarchy and maintain social order. However, many critics argue that the law is used to suppress political dissent and criticism, rather than to protect the royal family.

This case is just one example of the many instances of people being arrested and imprisoned for criticizing the royal family or government in Thailand. It highlights the need for greater protections for freedom of expression and the need for the government to reform its laws to ensure they are in line with international human rights standards.