Swiss tourist gets 1-year jail in Bali for mocking Hindu festival, calling tradition ‘crazy’

Swiss tourist Luzian Andrin Zgraggen. (AP Photo) A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison in Bali for mocking the Hindu festival Nyepi, also known as the Day of Silence, after posting videos on Instagram showing himself violating restrictions during the sacred observance.Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, was found guilty by the Denpasar District Court of violating Indonesia's new criminal code. The court said he posted the videos even after staff at the villa where he was staying had informed him about the restrictions in place during Nyepi.According to the Associated Press, Zgraggen had filmed himself walking to a beach during the festival and described the tradition as "crazy", while also using an expletive.The posts were widely shared on social media, triggering outrage among Balinese residents.Authorities later traced Zgraggen and arrested him at a villa in Legian, a popular tourist area near Kuta Beach.The court said his actions offended Balinese people, hurt their faith and caused public outrage.What is Nyepi, Bali's Hindu Day of Silence?Nyepi is a sacred Hindu festival marking the Balinese New Year. For 24 hours, Bali largely comes to a standstill, with residents a...