{
  "id": 2404284,
  "title": "Swiss man jailed for insulting Hindu holiday in Indonesia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/swiss-man-jailed-for-insulting-hindu-holiday-in-indonesia",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T16:23:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2026/08/1516274/swiss-man-jailed-insulting-hindu-holiday-indonesia"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Swiss authorities are offering consular assistance to Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, a 26-year-old national, who was sentenced to one year in prison in Indonesia for insulting a Hindu religious day while on holiday in Bali. Zgraggen was found guilty of online hate speech under an Indonesian law by the court in Denpasar, according to I Wayan Suarta, a court spokesman. The incident occurred in March when Zgraggen was reported to the police for a derogatory Instagram post about Nyepi, the Hindu Day of Silence marking the Balinese New Year. The Hindu-majority island observes Nyepi with reduced activities, including work, travel, public entertainment, and electricity use. The court considered Zgraggen's age and good behavior as mitigating factors, though the maximum punishment under the law is five years imprisonment. The Swiss foreign ministry is aware of the case but cannot disclose further details due to privacy reasons. They stated that they are providing consular support to Zgraggen, which includes informing him of the possibility of transfer to Switzerland and ensuring his dignified treatment. The Swiss Embassy in Jakarta is in contact with Indonesian authorities for consular protection. Consular services for Swiss citizens imprisoned abroad involve informing them of transfer possibilities and verifying their living conditions. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs emphasizes respecting local laws, religious customs, and cultural norms for travelers. Bali is a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors annually. However, recent high-profile cases have involved tourists misbehaving, such as two French nationals and an Italian arrested for producing and distributing pornography, and two Dutch citizens barred from returning for organizing a foreigner-only running event. Indonesia officially acknowledges six religions and indigenous beliefs.",
  "summary": "DENPASAR: Swiss authorities said Friday they were providing consular support to a national sentenced to one year in prison in Indonesia for insulting a Hindu religious day while he was on holiday in Bali.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}