This fits in our "Words" forum, I suppose, but it more concerns freedom of speech.

lèse-majesté — the insulting of a sovereign; treason
from Latin laesa majestas ‘injured sovereignty’

quote:

In Thailand last week, an Australian writer was sentenced to prison for allegedly disrespecting Thai royalty in a work of fiction. It appears that Thai authorities are increasingly using strict lese-majeste charges to discourage political dissent by equating any dissenting views with opposition to the king.

The quote is from NPR News, and the full report, barely four minutes long, can be heard here.

A particularly chilling passage, at the two-minute mark, says, "Writer Harry Nicolitas was sentenced to three years in prison for a line in his novel describing the marital troubles of an unnamed Thai prince. ... Nicolitas was led away handcuffed and in shackles, his self-published book having sold just seven copies."