Witness examination hearings are underway in a sedition case against five Malayu human rights defenders and activists—Mr. Irfan Umar, Mr. Hakim Pongtigor, Mr. Artef Sohko, Mr. Hussen Bue-nae, and Mr. Sareef Salaeman. The charges stem from their organization of and/or participation in a public seminar held on 7 June 2023 concerning the right to self-determination of the Patani people in southern Thailand.
The Court has scheduled prosecution witness hearings for 7–10 and 14–17 July 2026, while defence witness hearings are set for 18–20 August 2026. If convicted, the five defenders face prison sentences of up to seven years.
The prosecution of these five human rights defenders represents a significant deterioration of the enabling environment for civil society in Thailand. The use of sedition charges against individuals for organizing and participating in a peaceful seminar on self-determination raises serious concerns regarding the criminalization of legitimate human rights activities and the suppression of public debate on politically sensitive issues.