Buddhist Monk Accuses Chiang Mai Hotel of Religious Discrimination

Venerable Napan, deputy abbot of Saraket Rajavoramahavihara temple and a prominent advocate for human rights and nonviolence, posted about being denied accommodation at a well-known Chiang Mai hotel after a flight delay caused by a Bangkok thunderstorm. When staff told him monks could not stay there because the owner practices a different religion, the monk said he had already booked and paid for the room. He was exhausted from a difficult travel day and simply needed shelter near the airport late at night.

When the monk asked to see the hotel's written policy, none was produced. The manager confirmed the refusal but gave conflicting explanations: staff first said the owner was Muslim, then the manager said the owner was Sikh. The monk emphasized to management that regardless of the owner's faith, religious discrimination violates human rights and the Thai constitution. He said this practice appears to apply to all properties in the hotel chain.

The monk stated he cannot remain silent about such violations and plans to file a formal complaint with Thailand's National Human Rights Commission. He called on the public to reject religious discrimination in all forms, saying that business owners and staff who discriminate must face questioning by law if not by conscience. The monk urged people of all faiths to speak out together against such practices and ensure those responsible—whether owners, managers, or staff—face both social shame and legal consequences.