1.
lese-majeste; crime of disrespect toward the sovereign or royal family
A criminal offense consisting of showing disrespect or insult toward a monarch, emperor, or head of state. In Japan, this law existed under the Meiji Constitution but was abolished after World War II. Still enforced in some countries, particularly in Southeast Asia.
戦前の日本には不敬罪があった。
Prewar Japan had a lese-majeste law.
タイでは不敬罪で逮捕されるケースが今でもある。
In Thailand, there are still cases of people being arrested for lese-majeste.
不敬罪は表現の自由を制限するものだとして、国際的に批判されることが多い。
Lese-majeste laws are frequently criticized internationally as restrictions on freedom of expression.
Composed of 不敬 (disrespect, irreverence) and 罪 (crime, offense). A legal and historical term that appears in discussions of constitutional history, comparative law, and international news.
In Japan, 不敬罪 was codified in the 旧刑法 (old criminal code) under the Meiji government and was used to prosecute those who insulted the emperor, the imperial family, or imperial symbols. It was abolished in 1947 as part of the postwar democratic reforms. The concept remains relevant in international news coverage, particularly regarding Thailand, where Article 112 of the criminal code carries severe penalties for perceived insults to the monarchy.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 不敬罪で逮捕される: to be arrested for lese-majeste
- 不敬罪を廃止する: to abolish lese-majeste laws
- 不敬罪に問われる: to be charged with lese-majeste
- 不敬罪の適用: application of the lese-majeste law
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 不敬: disrespect — the broader concept of showing irreverence, without the legal connotation
- 名誉毀損: defamation — a related but distinct legal concept that applies to private individuals, not specifically to royalty