From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia High treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one’s government. Until the 19th century, counterfeiting coins was high
Participating in a war against one’s native country, at- treason in the United Kingdom and its predecessor coun-
tempting to overthrow its government, spying on its mil- tries.[1]
itary, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and
foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are
perhaps the best known examples of high treason. High
Canadian law
treason requires that the alleged traitor have obligations Main article: Treason#Canada
of loyalty in the state he or she betrayed, such as cit- In Canadian law, however, there are two separate of-
izenship, although presence in the state at the time is fences of treason and high treason, but both of these, in
sufficient. Foreign spies, assassins, and saboteurs, though fact, fall in the historical category of high treason.[2] In
not suffering the dishonor associated with conviction for Canada, the main difference in law between treason and
high treason, may still be tried and punished judicially high treason depends on whether the nation is at war or
for acts of espionage, assassination, or sabotage, though not.
in contemporary times, foreign spies and saboteurs are
usually repatriated following capture.[citation needed] High
treason is considered a very serious crime.
See also
Historically, in common law countries, high treason • Treason
was differentiated from petty treason, which was the act • List of people convicted of treason
of killing a lawful superior (such as a servant killing his • High treason in the United Kingdom
or her master or mistress). It was, in effect, considered a
more serious degree of murder. As jurisdictions around References
the world abolished petty treason, the concept of petty
treason gradually faded, and today use of the word "trea- [1] Treason Act 1351, Coinage Act 1832
son" generally refers to "high treason." [2] Criminal Code of Canada, section 46.
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Categories:
• Treason
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