Bali jails Swiss tourist for insulting sacred Day of Silence
A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison in Bali for violating the sacred Day of Silence (Nyepi) by filming himself on a restricted beach. The incident highlights the growing tension between Bali's tourism industry and the enforcement of local religious customs.
Why it matters
This case underscores the legal and cultural risks for international tourists who fail to respect local religious observances in popular travel destinations.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images Image caption, Bali's usually bustling beaches turn empty during Nyepi, an annual Hindu holiday
A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison for insulting a sacred religious event on Indonesia's holiday island of Bali.
In a now-removed video, Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, had filmed himself walking to an empty beach during the Hindu holiday of Nyepi, describing the scene as "crazy".
He was arrested in March after the video sparked widespread anger among Balinese on social media.
Nyepi, also known as the Day of Silence, is an annual holiday during which the usually bustling tourist island goes quiet, as people stay home and refrain from making loud noises. The restrictions apply to everyone on the island regardless of religion, including tourists.
On Nyepi, the island's airport shuts down and internet access is cut.
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