After months of legal uncertainty, the criminal defamation charges against Australian writer and commentator Murray Hunter have been formally withdrawn by a Bangkok court, with the matter resolved without penalty or costs.
Hunter described the experience as “personally very traumatic” but said he is relieved to have his passport returned and to regain the freedom to write, with access to his Substack restored.
The case had drawn international concern from free-expression advocates, who warned it reflected the growing use of cross-border legal action and criminal defamation laws to pressure journalists and writers.
Great news which gives us hope that the work we do to campaign for the rights of responsible free expression does have impact!
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