Thai Activist Receives Record 50-Year Sentence for Insulting Monarchy

A Thai man, Mongkol Thirakhot, has been sentenced to a record 50 years in prison for insulting the monarchy through social media posts, marking the toughest penalty under Thailand's lese majeste law. The court of appeal in Chiang Rai found him guilty of additional violations and extended his original 28-year sentence. Human rights groups criticize the use of lese majeste as a political tool to silence government critics, with over 1,900 people prosecuted for political participation since 2020. The case highlights the ongoing crackdown on dissent and calls for reforms to bring Thailand's laws in line with international standards.