Lese-majesty.html



George III violated, 1798

Lèse majesté (French expression, from the Latin Laesa maiestas or Laesae maiestatis (crimen), (crime of) injury to the Majesty; in English, also lese majesty or leze majesty) is the crime of violating majesty, an offense against the dignity of a reigning sovereign or against a state.

This behavior was first classified as a criminal offense against the dignity of the Roman republic in Ancient Rome. In time, as the Emperor became identified with the Roman state (the empire never formally became a monarchy), it was essentially applied to offenses against his person.¹ Though legally the princeps civitatis (his official title, roughly 'first citizen') could never become a sovereign, as the republic was never abolished, emperors were to be deified as divus, first posthumously but ultimately while reigning, and thus enjoyed the legal protection provided for the divinities of the state cult; by the time it was exchanged for Christianity, the monarchical tradition in all but name was well established.

Narrower conceptions of offenses against Majesty as offences against the crown predominated in the European kingdoms that emerged in the early medieval period. In feudal Europe, various real crimes were classified as lèse majesté even though not intentionally directed against the crown, such as counterfeiting because coins bear the monarch's effigy and/or coat of arms.

However, since the disappearance of absolute monarchy, this is viewed as less of a crime, although similar, more malicious acts, could be considered treason. By analogy, as modern times saw republics emerging as great powers, a similar crime may be constituted, though not under this name, by any offence against the highest representatives of any state.

Current lèse majesté laws

Thailand

Few countries still prosecute lèse majesté. One exception is Thailand, where social activists like Sulak Sivaraksa were charged with the crime in the 1980s and 1990s because they allegedly criticized the King,² although the King in his 2005 birthday speech said he would not take lèse majesté charges seriously. Several high-profile cases were dropped. In September 2006, the leaders of a military coup accused prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of lèse majesté; the Thai military is thought to be highly loyal to the king.³ Although the King is held in great respect by many Thais, he is also protected by lèse majesté laws which allow critics to be jailed for 3 to 15 years. Politician Veera Musikapong was jailed and banned from politics for lèse majesté, despite the palace's opinion that the remarks were harmless.

Frenchman Lech Tomasz Kisielewicz who in 1995 allegedly committed lèse majesté by making a derogatory remark about a Thai princess while on board a Thai Airways flight in international airspace was taken into custody upon landing in Bangkok and charged with offending the monarchy. He was detained for two weeks, released on bail, and acquitted after writing a letter of apology to king Bhumibol Adulyadej.^{citation needed}

Deposed Premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his political opponent Sondhi Limthongkul both filed charges of lèse majesté against each other during the 2005–2006 political crisis. Thaksin's alleged lèse majesté was one of the stated reasons for the Thai military's 2006 coup.⁴⁵⁶⁷ In 2006, former American Peace Corps volunteer Frank G. Anderson living in Thailand faced an accusation of lèse majesté filed by Papatchanan Chingin, advocate of a local abbot and radio show hostess, in the northeast city of Nakhonratchasima. Police referred the case to Bangkok but no credible evidence was found. Charges were not pursued.

In March 2007 Swiss national Oliver Jufer was convicted of lèse majesté and sentenced to 10 years for spray-painting on several portraits of the king while drunk in Chiang Mai, Thailand.⁸ Jufer was pardoned by the king on 12 April 2007.⁹

In March 2008 Police Colonel Watanasak Mungkijakarndee filed a case against Jakrapob Penkhair for comments made in an FCCT event in August 2007¹⁰. In April 2008 BBC south-east Asia correspondent Jonathan Head was accused of lèse majesté by Col. Watanasak Mungkijakarndee. The charge concerns comments made six months previously while Head was moderating a discussion on "Coup, Capital and Crown" at the FCCT (Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.)

In September 2008, Harry Nicolaides¹¹ from Melbourne, Australia, was arrested at Bangkok's international airport¹² amidst the 2008 Thai political crisis and charged for insulting the King.

Europe

In October 2007 a 47-year-old man was fined €400 for, amongst other things, lèse majesté in The Netherlands when he called Queen Beatrix a "whore" and described several sexual acts he would like to perform on her to a police officer.¹³

The Spanish satirical magazine El Jueves was fined for violation of Spain's lèse majesté laws after publishing an issue with a caricature of the Prince of Asturias and his wife engaging in sexual intercourse on the cover in 2007.¹⁴

In Germany, Switzerland¹⁵ and Poland it is illegal to publicly insult foreign heads of state. On 5 January 2005, Jerzy Urban was sentenced by Poland to a fine of 20,000 złoty (about 5000 EUR or 6,200 USD) for having insulted Pope John Paul II, a visiting head of state.¹⁶ Also, on January 26 – January 27, 2005, 28 human rights activists were temporarily detained by the Polish authorities for allegedly insulting Vladimir Putin, a visiting head of state. The activists were released after about 30 hours and only one was actually charged with insulting a foreign head of state.¹⁷ In October 2006, a Polish man was arrested in Warsaw after expressing his dissatisfaction with the leadership of Lech and Jarosław Kaczyński by farting loudly.¹⁸

Further information: Freedom of speech by country#Germany and #Poland

In Denmark the Monarch is protected by common law, although § 115 of straffeloven¹⁹ (Penal code) allows for doubling of the usual punishment in certain circumstances (Crimes that do not threaten state or constitution).

Crimes against other specified members of the royal family, such as the crown prince, can lead to an increase of punishment by 50 % under the same law.

Contempt of the Sovereign is an offence under the common law of England and Wales. It appears to have fallen into disuse.²⁰

Others

Brunei is another country which will still prosecute lèse majesté.

References

See also

• blasphemy
• mutiny
• insubordination

External links

Look up lese majesty in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikinews has related news:

Sondhi may face arrest over lèse majesté allegations

• BBC News article, Swiss man jailed for Thai insult