A court in Bali has sentenced a Swiss tourist to one year in prison for insulting a sacred Hindu observance, after he posted messages online during the island’s Day of Silence.

Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, was convicted on Thursday by the Denpasar District Court of violating Indonesia’s new criminal code. The court found that he posted social media content about Nyepi, known locally as the Day of Silence, when people are expected to stay at home and remain quiet while meditating.

Bali’s Day of Silence

Nyepi usually takes place in March. On the day, Bali’s beaches and streets are empty, with only special patrols operating to help ensure the observance is followed.

The restrictions also include shutting the airport and switching off the internet. The rules apply to everyone on the island, regardless of religion or nationality.

Posts Defied the Shutdown

The court said Zgraggen continued with his behaviour even after staff at the villa where he was staying informed him of the rules.

Prosecutors said the tourist posted messages to social media saying he had ignored the restrictions that bar residents and visitors from leaving their homes or accommodation except in emergencies.

In Instagram posts and accompanying video clips shared online, Zgraggen showed himself smiling at the camera and described walking to a beach during the observance. In one video, he referred to the tradition as “crazy” and used an expletive.

Condemnation and Arrest

The posts were widely shared on social media and drew condemnation from Balinese residents, who said the content was disrespectful.

Authorities tracked Zgraggen down after public complaints and arrested him at a villa in Legian, a tourist area near Kuta Beach.

Court Findings and Defence

At the hearing, which began in June, the Swiss tourist told the court he had not intended to insult the Hindu holiday or the Balinese people. He said he made the posts while hungry and frustrated that he could not obtain food during the shutdown, and he added that he had not fully understood the scope of the restrictions.

In his defence plea, Zgraggen said he regretted what he did and apologised.

The judge said Zgraggen’s actions offended Balinese people, harmed their faith and provoked public anger, and that he needed to be held accountable.

Officials have previously detained foreign and domestic tourists for leaving their accommodation during Nyepi, but such cases have often been resolved without prosecution.

Join the discussion?

21 August 2026

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I definitely will not visit Bali in March.

Regardless of what we may think about the severity of the punishment, I would suggest that once Balinese locals began circulating the clips and complaining, authorities had little room to manoeuvre.

But, this incident also sends a very clear message that foreigner visitors in any country need to be aware of local customs and to respect them or face the consequences.

He left his residence, then walked to the beach, and posted about it on Instagram, and said, "F your rules."

57 minutes ago, webfact said:

A court in Bali has sentenced a Swiss tourist to one year in prison for insulting a sacred Hindu observance

Crikey, I thought it was only Thailand who had the nasty, disrespectful foreigners.

He was mad that he couldn't leave his villa for 24 hours, so the judge graciously upgraded him to a room he can't leave for an entire year.

1 hour ago, TedG said:

He left his residence, then walked to the beach, and posted about it on Instagram, and said, "F your rules."

In response to locals dragging him on his Instagram about a week after the incident, he posted "Yougottakillmeifyouwannastopmementality" Maybe the ink from his neck tattoos went to his brain.

1 minute ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

In response to locals dragging him on his Instagram about a week after the incident, he posted "Yougottakillmeifyouwannastopmementality" Maybe the ink from his neck tattoos went to his brain.

The neck tattoo is a sign.

I’m no fan of enforcing anything religious on unbelievers.

Once again religion poisoning minds the world over.

No one can be expected to stand still in this A.I. driven world of insta grats and internet wickedry, for 24 damn hours.

Religions and cults.

Are the true home, of the worlds wake jobs.

3 hours ago, Mr Awesome said:

I definitely will not visit Bali in March.

Why not? You're not willing to respect Bali's culture, rules, and laws?

A day without Internet and silly posts will not make you die.

2 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

Regardless of what we may think about the severity of the punishment, I would suggest that once Balinese locals began circulating the clips and complaining, authorities had little room to manoeuvre.

But, this incident also sends a very clear message that foreigner visitors in any country need to be aware of local customs and to respect them or face the consequences.

The clear message is all that religion sh.. should stop!!! If you need to pray or believe in whatever religion or god do it at home stop bother other people.Thanks to whatever religion millions died and still dying.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The court said Zgraggen continued with his behaviour even after staff at the villa where he was staying informed him of the rules.

Entitled idiot. Religion is not my thing, and neither are the Buddhist non-drinking days in Thailand, but I don't get to decide on that. Show respect or don't leave Switzerland!

I used to live in Bali, 'adopted' by Balinese family I'd known for decades. Was there for nyepi. Fires are not to be lit, but saying no food available is off. Pre-cooked and/or fruit is just fine. NO electrical appliances like TVs and all to be turned on.

The original idea behind nyepi is to make the island appear to be uninhabited. The demons would notice and then fly away to some other place.

The Balinese are the most social people I have ever met & I wondered "Can they keep this up the entire day?". They started coming out around sundown so they could chat up friends and neighbors....

A year in jail seems a bit much.... how about 6 months for this disrespectful POS?

You would think that, just for one day, this self-entitled prat could be courteous enough to respect the local law.

10 minutes ago, Emdog said:

A year in jail seems a bit much.... how about 6 months for this disrespectful POS?

No, it's absolutley ok. I didn't watch the video, but read in a swiss newspaper the words he recorded... «F... Nyepi and f... your rules too».

Breaking the rules - religion or not - is one thing. But with this sentence he digged his own grave himself.

Instead of one day he can now practice one year.

2 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I’m no fan of enforcing anything religious on unbelievers.

Me neither.

But his behavior shows that he has absolutely no respect. It’s not as if he only developed this character trait in Bali; he’ll act just as disrespectfully everywhere else. I have no sympathy for him.

And neither do the majority of reader comments in Switzerland.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Schoggibueb
Typo

I had to smile when seeing in the video the Senator, wearing a Superman/Girl Tshirt, interrogating the Guy. The Swiss learnt the hard way, that Indonesia does not follow the "slap on the wrist" mentality from Europe.

When in Rome.

I’ve stayed in Bali at Nyepi time.It really is a surreal experience but it just shows how soft westerners are now when they can’t go 24 hours without the tele,music or the internet.

If you go,take a good book.

I’ve never been to Bali, but we’re going next week.

Before watching the video, I thought the punishment was way too harsh. After watching the video, I changed my mind. He looks like the kind of fellow who would benefit from a year in an Indonesian prison.

I'd love to spend a day that peaceful. Where do I go to sign up?

8 hours ago, Woke to Sounds said:

Once again religion poisoning minds the world over.

No one can be expected to stand still in this A.I. driven world of insta grats and internet wickedry, for 24 damn hours.

Apparently they can be!

1 hour ago, Keeenok Powell said:

When in Rome.

Slaughter Christians?

Edited 2 minutes ago2 min by emptypockets