UN experts said today (25 March) that they are alarmed by the royal defamation sentences against human rights lawyer Anon Nampa. They called on the Thai authorities to overturn Anon's conviction and drop the remaining charges against him and others facing prosecution. The Thai authorities must also bring the Criminal Code in line with international human rights standards and release those sentenced for exercising their rights to freedom of expression.

Human rights lawyer and activist Anon Nampa has been sentenced to 4 years in prison on a royal defamation charge for 3 Facebook posts criticizing the use of the royal defamation law against critics of the monarchy and calling for monarchy reform.

Convicted human rights lawyer Anon Nampa has decided to withdraw his bail applications in 20 cases despite facing 80 years of imprisonment. “This is not a guilty plea,” he asserted.

At the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s award ceremony for the 2023 Albie Awards, lawyers from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) during their acceptance speech addressed the prosecution and detention of activists charged for political expression.

Human rights lawyer and activist Anon Nampa has been found guilty of royal defamation and sentenced to 4 years in prison for a speech he gave during a protest on 14 October 2020. He is now detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison while the Appeal Court considers his bail request.