An American lecturer, Paul Chambers, has been arrested in Thailand after being accused of insulting the monarchy.
In the country, the crime carries up to 15 years in prison.
Chambers, who teaches political science at northern Thailand’s Naresuan University, was arrested on Tuesday and produced in court in Phitsanulok province.
The 58-year-old was denied bail before his trial on charges under Thailand’s strict lese-majeste law and the Computer Crime Act, which regulates online speech.
His legal team will appeal the decision on Wednesday. No trial date has been set.
Chambers, who has been teaching in Thailand for more than 10 years, has researched the Thai military’s influence on politics.
The army in the Asian country has staged 13 coups since 1932, including one as recently as 2014.
Scholars at Risk, a United States-based academic freedom group, suggested the charges may relate to comments Chambers made during a 2024 webinar discussing military restructuring.
Chambers’ wife, Napisa Waitoolkiat who is the dean of social sciences at Naresuan University, has denied the evidence cited was his words.
She told The Associated Press news agency that authorities used a description from the Singapore-based ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, which hosted the event.
“It feels like they wanted to deter Paul from his research, which often covers the Thai military’s economics,” Napisa said.
The US State Department has said it was “alarmed” by the arrest and pledged consular support.
In a statement, it criticised Thailand’s use of lese-majeste law, urging authorities to “respect freedom of expression” and avoid stifling dissent.
