Swiss tourist sentenced to year in jail for insulting Bali's sacred Day of Silence
A 26-year-old Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison in Bali for violating the island's sacred Day of Silence. The tourist posted social media content mocking the mandatory silence and isolation requirements, which apply to all residents and visitors.
Why it matters
The case highlights the strict enforcement of local cultural and religious customs on international tourists in Indonesia.
A court on the Indonesian resort island of Bali sentenced a Swiss tourist to one year in prison on Thursday for insulting a sacred Balinese Hindu observance.Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, was found guilty of violating Indonesia’s new criminal code by posting social media messages about the Day of Silence, when people are required to stay home and are urged to remain silent and meditate.The Denpasar District Court determined that he posted the messages even after staff at the villa where he was staying informed him of the restrictions.“What the defendant did offended the Balinese people, hurt their faith and provoked public outrage,” said presiding judge Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima. “The defendant must be held accountable for his actions.”The Day of Silence, locally known as Nyepi, usually falls in March.
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