BANGKOK, THAILAND – Australian journalist Murray Hunter faced criminal defamation charges in Thailand over reports on a Malaysian state agency, prompting alarm from rights groups.
Arrest at Bangkok airport
On 29 September 2025, Hunter was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport while waiting for a flight to Hong Kong. Thai authorities confiscated his passport, released him on bail, and barred him from leaving the country.
“The arrest and prosecution of Murray Hunter are alarming examples of the suppression of critical voices.”
said Daniela Gavshon, Human Rights Watch representative.
Four defamation counts and possible prison terms
Hunter was charged with four counts of “defamation by publication,” each carrying a possible prison term of up to two years. In addition, he faced potential fines of up to 200,000 baht (about 5,000 euros) per count. The trial was scheduled to begin on 22 December.
The charges stemmed from articles Hunter published in April 2024 on his Substack newsletter, in which he reported on a Malaysian authority.
Malaysian commission behind the complaint
The complaint was driven by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, which appointed legal representation in Thailand. Human rights organizations accused Malaysia of using litigation abroad as a new strategy to silence critical voices.
“The Thai government should not assist the Malaysian government in censoring and prosecuting its critics.”
said Gavshon.
Growing international criticism
Human Rights Watch called on Thailand to drop the charges immediately, arguing that criminal defamation laws were incompatible with freedom of expression. UN bodies also opposed prison sentences for defamation, but Thailand was said to systematically ignore these recommendations.
“Australia and other concerned nations should tell Thailand that the prosecution of Hunter is damaging the country’s reputation.”
the human rights organization stated.
Thailand under pressure over free speech
Since the 2014 military coup, almost 2,000 people in Thailand had been prosecuted for exercising their freedom of expression. Observers said Hunter’s case showed that Thailand was also assisting foreign governments in suppressing critics, describing this as a dangerous trend for democracy.
The international community closely watched the December proceedings, with Thailand’s reputation seen as being at stake.