The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Search: insult and defamation laws in Asia, national level

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

5 incidents match this view.

Country: Hong Kong, RSF 2026 rank: 140th of 180 India, RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180 Thailand Türkiye, RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180

Continent: Asia

Tactic: Insult and defamation laws (5) Detention and violence (2)

Stage: Punish (4) Eliminate (1)

Outcome: Upheld by a court (2) Ongoing (2) Unknown (1)

Level: National (5)

Head of government: John Lee Narendra Modi Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Yingluck Shinawatra

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
February 10, 2026India: one-year prison sentence for the journalist Ravi Nair in a criminal defamation case, February 2026India (RSF 2026 rank: 157th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsNarendra ModiUnknown (February 10, 2026)
August 29, 2024Hong Kong court convicts Stand News editors of seditionHong Kong (RSF 2026 rank: 140th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsJohn LeeUpheld by a court (September 26, 2024)
November 1, 2023Turkish authorities detain three journalists under 'disinformation' lawTürkiye (RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180)Insult and defamation lawsRecep Tayyip ErdoğanOngoing
January 22, 2022Turkiye: journalist Sedef Kabas is arrested for a proverb about President ErdoganTürkiye (RSF 2026 rank: 163rd of 180)Insult and defamation lawsRecep Tayyip ErdoğanOngoing (June 22, 2023)
January 24, 2013Thailand: magazine editor Somyot Prueksakasemsuk is sentenced to 11 years under the lese-majeste lawThailand (RSF rank: not recorded)Insult and defamation lawsYingluck ShinawatraUpheld by a court (April 30, 2018)
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