Criticizing the Government? In These 8 Countries, That Could Mean Jail

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00:00Criticizing the government? In these eight countries, that could mean jail.

00:05Criminal penalties for violating these laws.

00:08Depending on the country, derogatory statements or criticizing officials online can lead to imprisonment.

00:14Nations monitor social media, with consequences ranging from fines to years in prison.

00:19You may be surprised by some of the countries on this list.

00:23Spain. Under les majestés laws, slandering Spain's monarchy can lead to imprisonment for up to two years.

00:30Rapper Pablo Hasel's arrest sparked protests globally, prompting legislative review on decriminalization.

00:37Poland. Poland strictly prohibits public insults against its president, with penalties up to three years in prison.

00:44However, courts discern intent and context, occasionally leading to acquittals, like Jakub Żolczyk's 2021 case.

00:52Iceland. Despite Iceland's liberal image, defaming its president risks a two-year jail sentence.

00:58Criticizing foreign leaders might lead to a severe six-year imprisonment.

01:04Germany.

01:05While Germany protects freedom of speech, it penalizes insults to its president with three months to five years in prison.

01:12However, Germany repealed its foreign insults law in 2017.

01:17Greece.

01:18Defaming Greece's president is punishable by up to three months in jail.

01:22Any publications with such content are seized.

01:24While enforcement is rare, the law applies to foreign heads of state.

01:29Italy.

01:30Criticizing Italy's president can result in up to five years in prison.

01:34And in 2017, an American woman was prosecuted for criticizing an Italian magistrate.

01:40Sweden.

01:40Criticizing Sweden's monarch may lead to a six-year prison term, illustrating strict enforcement.

01:47Foreign insult laws exist but are rarely applied, requiring legal awareness.

01:52Thailand.

01:54Thailand's Les Majestés Law, harshest worldwide, punishes royal criticism with up to 15 years' imprisonment.

02:01Cultural taboos against royal disapproval are deeply ingrained.

02:05Evidence by 2025's Paul Chambers' arrest.