Murray Hunter
Murray Hunter is an Australian journalist and retired academic specializing in Southeast Asia.[1][2]
Career
2025 arrest in Thailand
Hunter was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok as he was boarding a flight to Hong Kong on charges of defamation by publication under section 328 of Thailand’s criminal code.[3][4] Hunter was subsequently jailed overnight and released on 20,000 Baht bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on 17 November 2025.[3] Hunter faces a maximum prison term of two years.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) made police complaints against Hunter in Malaysia and Thailand.[5][6][7]
Hunter claims the charges stem from 2024 articles about Malaysia published on his Substack newsletter.[3] He characterized his arrest as a form of transnational repression by Malaysia, in the form of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).[5]
In December 2025, a four-hour Senate of Thailand committee hearing urged local prosecutors to drop the defamation case.[8]
Reaction
Hunter's arrest by Thai police on behalf of MCMC was widely criticized.[9][10] It was described as an "extraordinary step".[11] On 1 October 2025, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and PEN Malaysia issued a statement condemning the arrest.[12] On 19 November 2025, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand issued a statement writing Hunter's arrest "highlights the ease with which Thailand’s criminal defamation can be misused."[13][14]
Publications
- Narratives From Piyamit: Life Stories at the End of the Revolution (2024)[15]
References
- ↑ National, Brought to you byABC Radio (2025-10-04). "Australian academic and commentator arrested in Thailand". ABC listen. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/oz-academic-arrested-in-thailand-for-defaming-malaysian-govt/news-story/75796ac955b216e360f45e2a3d4cb3ba?amp
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Peck, Grant; Saksornchai, Jintamas (2025-10-02). "Australian says he was improperly arrested in Thailand over his criticism of Malaysia". AP News. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ "Thailand: Australian Journalist Charged with Defamation | Human Rights Watch". 2025-11-26. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Thailand Arrests Australian Journalist Over Malaysian Defamation Charge". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ Mail, Malay (2025-10-03). "MCMC: Murray Hunter's Bangkok arrest linked to ongoing Thai investigation". Malay Mail. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ Times, New Straits (2025-10-03). "MCMC: Murray Hunter arrested after ignoring Thai summonses | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ "Thai Prosecutors Urged to Drop Malaysian Defamation Case Against Australian Journalist". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ↑ "Thailand indicts journalist Murray Hunter on criminal defamation charges at Malaysia's request". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2025-11-20. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ↑ "Malaysia must withdraw government SLAPP action against HRD Murray Hunter in Thailand's criminal court". International Federation for Human Rights. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ↑ Berthelsen, John. "Thais Arrest Journalist Critic at Malaysia's Request". www.asiasentinel.com. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ "Detention of Political Commentator Murray Hunter a Suppression of Free Speech | CIJ Malaysia". 2025-10-02. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
- ↑ "FCCT STATEMENT ON THE INDICTMENT OF MURRAY HUNTER – FCCT Club News Update". www.fccthai.com. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ↑ "Australian living in Thailand faces trial over alleged criminal defamation of Malaysian government". The Guardian. 2025-11-20. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ↑ Jason Ng Sze Chieh; Hunter, Murray (2024). Narratives from Piyamit: life stories at the end of the revolution. Petaling Jaya: SIRD Strategic Information and Research Development Centre. ISBN 978-629-7575-33-9. Search this book on
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