Religion Panel Warns Against Mocking Monk in Social Media Content
A Thai parliament committee chair warned against mocking a former monk on social media and in performances, cautioning that such content violates religious respect and may breach laws carrying prison sentences up to seven years.
On September 14, Thiwalinart Anginanth, a Phetchaburi Member of Parliament from the Thai Pride Party and chairwoman of the Religion, Arts and Culture Committee of the House of Representatives, issued a public warning about people adapting, mocking, mimicking costumes, or creating vulgar content related to the former abbot of Putthai Dharma Temple through social media and stage performances to attract likes, shares, and views. Thiwalinart said that regardless of whether such actions stem from ignorance, carelessness, or deliberate profit-seeking from trending news, all parties should think carefully before publishing. She emphasized that the matter affects more than one individual—it touches on monkhood, Buddhist symbols, and the feelings of many Buddhists nationwide. "One person may violate monastic discipline and degrade from monkhood, but Buddhism itself does not degrade with that person. Do not use one person's misconduct as an excuse to trample on something the entire nation respects. Before joking, before sharing, or before staging it, consider whether our laughter comes at the cost of wounding Buddhists' hearts," she said. Thiwalinart noted that freedom of expression and content creation has limits, especially when involving religion and vulgar displays. Claiming something is a joke or content does not automatically shield creators from legal liability. Improperly dressing as or using symbols of a Buddhist monk or novice to deceive others violates the Criminal Code Section 208, carrying a sentence of up to one year imprisonment or a fine up to 20,000 baht, or both. If the conduct involves disrespecting religious objects or places, Section 206 applies, with penalties of 1-7 years imprisonment or a fine of 20,000-140,000 baht, or both. Vulgar conduct before a public audience may fall under Section 388, punishable by a fine up to 5,000 baht. Each case requires separate assessment of facts and elements. Thiwalinart stressed that society can fully scrutinize and criticize wrongdoers, and wrongdoers must accept responsibility—but it is crucial to distinguish between "holding wrongdoers accountable" and "using religion for entertainment purposes," which are not the same thing. She called on the public, event organizers, entertainment businesses, content creators, influencers, and social media users to report evidence of mockery, religious contempt, impersonation of clergy, or inappropriate vulgar behavior to police or relevant authorities for investigation and legal action. She concluded: "Likes may fade in days, viral clips may be forgotten in weeks, but wounds to people's faith may last far longer. Do not let the carelessness of a few become harm inflicted on the entire Buddhist community."
