Bali jails Swiss tourist for insulting sacred Day of Silence

Swiss tourist Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, has been jailed in Bali for insulting the sacred Day of Silence, a day of mandatory rest and meditation observed by the Balinese people. The Denpasar District Court found Zgraggen guilty of posting social media messages about the Day of Silence, even after staff at his villa informed him of the restrictions.

The Balinese community considered Zgraggen's posts disrespectful, leading to public outrage. The Day of Silence, also known as Nyepi, usually occurs in March, during which all activities on the island are halted, including the closure of the airport and the shutting down of the internet. Even foreign tourists are expected to observe the restrictions, which apply regardless of religion or nationality.

Zgraggen boasted on Instagram that he had defied the restrictions and can be seen in videos walking to a beach and joking about the tradition. During his trial, Zgraggen claimed he had not intended to insult the holiday or the Balinese people and made the posts while feeling hungry and frustrated by the inability to obtain food. He expressed regret and apologized to the Balinese people in his defense plea.