The tranquil atmosphere and lush greenery of Bali encourage self-reflection and relaxation. However, the tourist hotspot is about to become uncomfortable for a Swiss man, who has been jailed for insulting a Hindu religious day.
Denpasar, Indonesia - 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.
Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, was sentenced on Thursday after being found guilty of crimes under an Indonesian law against online hate speech, I Wayan Suarta, a spokesman for the court in Denpasar, told AFP.
Zgraggen was arrested in March after he was reported to police over an Instagram post in which he used expletives while denigrating "Nyepi", the Hindu Day of Silence that marks the Balinese New Year.
On that day each year, the Hindu-majority island largely comes to a standstill, with work, travel, public entertainment and even electricity use discouraged for locals and tourists alike.
