Swiss tourist jailed in Bali for mocking 'Day of Silence' ritual on Instagram

A 26-year-old Swiss construction worker, Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, has been sentenced to a year in detention on the Indonesian island of Bali for violating the sacred 'Day of Silence' ritual, known locally as Nyepi. He was found guilty of breaking Indonesian law by posting provocative videos to his Instagram story on March 19, the day of the observance.

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displayed his anger

During Nyepi, residents and tourists are required to stay indoors, minimize noise, and keep lights dim for 24 hours, engaging in quiet meditation. Zgraggen, who arrived in Bali on February 10, reportedly became frustrated by the inability to leave his hotel for food. Court documents state he "displayed his anger" on social media, posting a video with a caption that included an expletive directed at the holiday's rules.

Although Zgraggen removed the initial posts after receiving negative comments, the videos were screen-recorded and widely shared, sparking outrage among Balinese residents who viewed his actions as deeply disrespectful. He then re-uploaded a video with the caption "they want smoke," slang for initiating a conflict, which also faced significant criticism.

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it was “pretty peaceful outside”

Following these events, Zgraggen contacted a senator from the Indonesian Regional Representative Council to apologize. Upon arriving at the senator's residence, he was arrested by Bali police's cybercrime unit. He was charged with disseminating hate speech based on religion through electronic information. His trial began in June, culminating in the August 20 sentencing.

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they want smoke