Swiss tourist jailed in Bali for insulting Hindu holiday

A 26-year-old Swiss national will spend a year in prison on the Indonesian island of Bali after being found guilty of insulting the sacred Hindu holiday of Nyepi, also known as the Day of Silence. A judge in Denpasar convicted the man for making offensive remarks on social media about the traditional observance.

Nyepi requires all residents and visitors on the predominantly Hindu island to remain silent and refrain from work, entertainment, and internet use for 24 hours. Streets are empty, and even the international airport shuts down. Hotel staff had informed the tourist of these rules upon his arrival in February.

“

What the defendant did offended the Balinese people, hurt their faith and provoked public outrage. The defendant must be held accountable for his actions.

However, the man posted videos on Instagram boasting that he had ignored the restrictions and walked to a beach. He also criticized the tradition as "crazy" and used expletives. These actions sparked outrage and led to complaints to the police, resulting in his arrest in March.

Presiding judge Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima stated that the defendant's actions deeply offended the Balinese people, hurt their faith, and provoked public anger. The judge emphasized that the man must be held accountable. During the trial, the defendant expressed regret and apologized, explaining that he hadn't fully grasped the restrictions and was frustrated by the unavailability of food. He claimed it was not his intention to insult anyone. His five months in pre-trial detention will be deducted from his sentence, and Swiss authorities are providing consular assistance.

“

I deeply regret what I did. I apologize to the Balinese people.