Key facts
- Arnon Nampa received a cumulative sentence of over 34 years across 14 lèse majesté cases.
- He was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail on Friday.
- The charges stem from a 2020 protest where he criticized the monarchy while dressed as Harry Potter.
- Thailand's lèse majesté law has seen increased use since 2020 protests.
- 294 people, including 20 minors, have been prosecuted under the law since 2020.
Human rights lawyer Arnon Nampa has been sentenced to over 34 years in jail across 14 cases for violating Thailand's lèse majesté law, including a recent two-year, eight-month sentence for a 2020 protest where he criticized the monarchy while dressed as Harry Potter. The law, article 112, has been increasingly used since 2020 student protests demanding reforms, with 294 people prosecuted, including 20 minors. Many defendants are denied bail and face lengthy trials. Thai officials defend the law as reflecting the nation's culture and the monarchy's revered status. The law's broad interpretation allows prosecution for even questioning the monarchy. Activist Supitcha "Melinn" Chailom also faces charges after similar protests.