Thailand: Second lèse-majesté conviction of pro-democracy activist and MP Chonthicha Jangrew, sentenced to two years and eight months in prison

The Observatory has been informed about the latest conviction and prison sentence of Ms Chonthicha Jangrew, a prominent pro-democracy activist and Member of Parliament (MP) from the Move Forward Party.

On 8 September 2025, Ms Chonthicha Jangrew was found guilty of offences under Article 112 of the Criminal Code (“lèse-majesté”) [1] and Article 14 (3) of the Computer Crime Act by the Bangkok Criminal Court and sentenced to four years in prison, reduced to two years and eight months in prison, in consideration of her useful testimony in her case. Ms Chonthicha had been prosecuted for posting on Facebook about the Thai monarchy as part of the "People’s Messages" campaign organised by the pro-democracy group Free Youth on 8 November 2020. In her letter to King Rama X, Ms Chonthicha criticised the royal budget and reiterated the movement’s demands for reforms of the monarchy. Her legal team had prepared to seek bail immediately after sentencing, with her status as MP at risk if detained. Upon sentencing, the Bangkok Criminal Court referred Ms Chonthicha’s bail request to the Court of Appeals, which ordered her temporary release pending appeal, with bail set at 300,000 THB (approximately equivalent to 7,950 Euros).

This verdict followed Ms Chonthicha’s conviction in another case under Article 112. On 27 May 2024, the Thanyaburi Provincial Court sentenced her to two years in prison for a speech she gave during a peaceful demonstration in Thanyaburi, Pathumthani Province, in September 2021. On the same day of that verdict, Ms Chonthicha was granted a temporary release on bail with a 150,000 THB (approximately equivalent to 3,778 Euros) deposit, pending appeal. The Thanyaburi Provincial Court is scheduled to announce the Court of Appeals’ verdict in the appeal filed by Ms Chonthicha Jangrew against her conviction and prison sentence on 30 September 2025.

The Observatory recalls that Ms Chonthicha has been facing judicial harassment and criminalisation for her pro-democracy activism for many years. Since 2015, she has been prosecuted in approximately 30 criminal cases on various politically-motivated charges, including lèse-majesté and sedition.

The Observatory further recalls that the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has expressed deep concern about the violence, harassment, and judicial harassment faced by women human rights defenders in Thailand, including prolonged pre-trial detention and criminal charges related to their human rights work. The CEDAW has urged Thai authorities to create an “enabling environment” for women human rights defenders to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and specifically recommended amending Articles 112 (“lèse-majesté”) and 116 (“sedition”) of Thailand Criminal Code, as well as the Computer Crimes Act, to prevent the misuse of these laws against them.

The Observatory notes with concern that between 19 November 2020 and 1 September 2025, 284 people, including many human rights defenders and 20 minors, were charged under Article 112 of the Criminal Code. Eighteen are currently detained pending trial or appeal, and 11 more are serving prison sentences On 14 May 2024, youth activist Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom, who was arbitrarily held in pre-trial detention under “lèse-majesté” charges, died in custody after a prolonged hunger strike that had ended in April 2024.

The Observatory strongly condemns the sentencing and ongoing judicial harassment against Ms Chonthicha Jangrew. These actions appear to be solely aimed at punishing her for her legitimate human rights activities and the exercise of her rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The Observatory calls on the Thai authorities to immediately and unconditionally end all forms of judicial harassment against her and all pro-democracy activists currently prosecuted.

1 Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code prescribes jail terms of three to 15 years for those found guilty of defaming, insulting, or threatening the King, the Queen, the Heir to the throne, or the Regent.