Yes, we do because Thailand is a multi-faith country with five major religions : Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and
Christianity. The minor ones are Brahminism, Bahai-Faith, Taoism etc. We have to give all of them legal protection as follows :
1. Any person doing something in despite of or to look down upon any religion such as burning a religious flag or destroying an image of a religious leader, is punishable with imprisonment from one years to seven years or fine from two thousand baht to fourteen thousand baht or both. Buddhism has statues of Buddha as the objects of worship. Some years ago, a tourist climbed up to sit on the shoulder of a big statue of Buddha for photographing. He was arrested but was later acquitted because the investigating officer found that he had no intent to look down upon Buddhism. And the person extended his apology to the public.Media throughout the Kingdom published the event denouncing the action. The embassy of the state of the man in Bangkok expressed its apology to all Buddhists. Some images of Buddha seem to me to be very sacred because when I was a young boy, I was so naughty that I climbed up on a statue of Buddha at the altar of my home temple. People said that I had committed a sinful act that caused a skin disease all over my head. The abbot of the temple healed it for me by using his spit from his spit tool to rub on the disease, and I was healed in the end.
2. Any body causing a disturbance in a religious meeting is punishable with imprisonment not more than one years or fine not more than two thousand baht or both.
3. Any body dressing like a Buddhist monk or like ascetic persons of other religions or using a symbol of any religion in an improper way is punishable with imprisonment not more than one year or fine not more than two thousand baht or both.
By KRAIVIT BUSINESS AND ESTATE LAW OFFICE :
WWW. K- HUAHINLAWYER.COM
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