thai king Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida
Under increasing pressure from protesters demanding reforms to the monarchy, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida met with thousands of supporters in Bangkok on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2020.
Wason Wanichakorn/Associated Press
  • A 16-year-old boy in Thailand is facing criminal charges for “making fun of the king” by dressing up similarly to the Thai king and displaying words on his body that were “insulting.”
  • He is being charged under Thailand’s “lese-majeste” rule, a sweeping and controversial law that prohibits insulting, defaming, or threatening the monarchy.
  • Thousands of pro-democracy protesters have demonstrated in Thailand in recent months and more than a dozen people have been hit with lese-majeste charges.
  • Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

A 16-year-old boy in Thailand is facing criminal charges for insulting the king, according to a Channel News Asia reporter.

The boy is accused of dressing up similarly to Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and displaying words on his body that insulted the king. He is being charged under Thailand’s “lese-majeste” law.

The sweeping and controversial law makes it a crime to insult, defame, or threaten the monarchy.

According to the US Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council, the boy faces anywhere from three to 15 years in jail.

The charges came after the boy was spotted at a protest last week wearing a tank top similar to one the King is often spotted wearing. 

A group of protesters gathered outside the Yannawa Police Station in Bangkok in support of the boy, Wong reported. She said the supporters wrote "Abolish 112," a reference to the royal defamation law, on the street outside the station.

 

The charges are just the latest brought under the lese-majesty law, as more than two dozen activists have recently been charged for violating the law after a two-year break in its enforcement, The Guardian reported. The unnamed high school student is believed to be among the youngest to ever be charged under the law.

Thousands of people have demonstrated in Thailand in recent months, demanding reforms that would weaken the monarchy's power. Protesters also requested Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha be removed, believing he had rigged his 2019 election to remain in power.

Many of the recent lese-majesty charges have targeted young pro-democracy protesters.

Activists have sought the help of the United Nations in demanding the repeal of the law, CNA reported.

In 2015, a man was charged under the rule for "mocking" the king when he shared an image to Facebook of then-king Bhumibol Adulyadej's favorite dog, BBC reported.

Read the original article on Insider

Dit artikel is oorspronkelijk verschenen op z24.nl