Swiss tourist jailed in Bali for insulting Hindu holiday
The 26-year-old was given a one-year prison sentence for offensive remarks posted on Instagram. During the trial, he apologized to the Balinese people for denigrating the Day of Silence and said he regretted his actions.
A Swiss tourist from Bali has been sentenced to one year in prison for insulting the Hindu holiday Nyepi, also known as the Day of Silence. The 26-year-old was found guilty by a judge in Denpasar for making derogatory comments about the tradition on social media. The holiday requires people to observe strict silence, refrain from work, and avoid using the internet or entertainment.
The defendant had defied the restrictions and posted videos of himself walking to a beach during the observance, calling the tradition "crazy" and using an expletive. He was arrested in March after the videos caused widespread outrage. In court, the man claimed he did not understand the extent of the restrictions and apologized for his actions.
He spent five months in pre-trial detention, which will be subtracted from his one-year prison sentence.
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