American Academic Held in Thailand on Royal Insult Charges

Paul Chambers, a U.S. scholar, is in pretrial detention after being charged under Thailand’s lese majeste and Computer Crimes Act, with his legal team appealing the court's denial of bail.

Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University, turned himself in to Thai authorities on April 8, 2025, after being accused of insulting the monarchy and violating the Computer Crimes Act.
The charges stem from a complaint by the Thai military regarding a 2024 webinar invitation posted on a Singaporean research institute’s website, which Chambers denies authoring or posting.
Chambers has been denied bail twice, with the court citing his foreign nationality and the severity of the potential penalties as reasons for the decision.
The U.S. State Department has expressed alarm over the case, emphasizing concerns about freedom of expression and the use of lese majeste laws to stifle dissent.
Human rights groups have condemned the charges, warning of the broader implications for academic freedom and free speech in Thailand.