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Bali jails Swiss tourist for insulting sacred Day of Silence

BBC News · 🇬🇧 public United Kingdom · · 344 words · By Koh Ewe
Cultural Conflict Tourism Management legal_consequences
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Bali jails Swiss tourist for insulting sacred Day of Silence - Published A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison for insulting a sacred religious event on Indonesia's holiday island of Bali.

Claims checked 10
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left20%
Center60%
Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Bali jails Swiss tourist for insulting sacred Day of Silence - Published A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison for insulting a sacred religious event on Indonesia's holiday island of Bali.

Why it matters

In a now-removed video, Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, had filmed himself walking to an empty beach during the Hindu holiday of Nyepi, describing the scene as "crazy".

Common ground

He was arrested in March after the video sparked widespread anger among Balinese on social media.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj4kr59r28ko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6
info Single Source 3
help Insufficient Evidence 1
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Claim 1: “A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison for insulting a sacred religious event on Indonesia's holiday island of Bali.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results confirm that a Swiss tourist was sentenced to one year in prison for insulting the Day of Silence in Bali.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to one year in prison for insulting a sacred religious event on Indonesia's holiday island of Bali.Bali has seen tourist numbers recover past its pandemic lull. Last…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4kr59r28ko
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Swiss tourist sentenced to year in jail for insulting Bali's sacred Day of Silence.The airport in Bali, a predominantly Hindu island in Muslim-majority Indonesia, shuts down and the internet is switch…
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/08/20/swiss-tourist-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Swiss tourist sentenced to a year in jail for insulting Bali's sacred Day of Silence. 3 days ago. Save for later.
https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZj…
info
Claim 2: “Nyepi, also known as the Day of Silence, is an annual holiday during which the usually bustling tourist island goes quiet, as people stay home and refrain from making loud noises.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided for this claim consists of HR consulting firms in Cheyenne, Wyoming, which is completely irrelevant to the claim about Nyepi in Bali.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — HR Consulting Companies in Cheyenne, WY sorted by popularity. Read reviews from employees and see company profiles.
https://www.indeed.com/companies/best-HR-Consulting-companie…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Search ClearlyRated to find Cheyenne human resource service firms that specialize in consulting, executive search, payroll and more in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
https://www.clearlyrated.com/hr-services/wy-usa/cheyenne-wy
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Sep 6, 2026 · GritHR Solutions is a comprehensive Human Resources Consulting firm that specializes in HR Strategy, Talent Management, and HR Outsourcing. Across their reviews, 100% of clients apprecia…
https://clutch.co/hr/consultants/cheyenne
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Claim 3: “Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, had filmed himself walking to an empty beach during the Hindu holiday of Nyepi”
CORROBORATED
Three independent sources confirm the identity of the tourist as Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, his age as 26, and the act of filming himself walking to an empty beach during Nyepi.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Zgraggen filmed himself on an empty beach, calling the scene "crazy" while using expletives, sparking outrage among Balinese people online. Nyepi requires residents and tourists alike to stay indoors,…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSGicReUX-U
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Mr Zgraggen filmed himself walking to an empty beach during the observance, smiling at the camera, and in one clip called the scene crazy while swearing in the caption. The video, since removed, was w…
https://www.aol.com/articles/swiss-tourist-jailed-being-beac…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, filmed hims.Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, filmed himself walking to an empty beach during the Day of Silence and describing the scene as "crazy" in a now-removed video that t…
https://www.binance.com/en-BH/square/post/08-21-2026-swiss-t…
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Claim 4: “The restrictions apply to everyone on the island regardless of religion, including tourists.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that Nyepi restrictions apply to everyone on the island regardless of religion, including tourists.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The restrictions apply to everyone on the island regardless of religion, including tourists. On Nyepi, the island's airport shuts down and internet access is restricted. Entertainment events are restr…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4kr59r28ko
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Nyepi restrictions apply to everyone on the island — all residents, all tourists, all faiths. The date shifts each year. In 2026, Nyepi fell on March 19. Always verify the exact date before booking tr…
https://wayfar.co/asia/indonesia/bali/nyepi-day-of-silence
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — No, Nyepi restrictions apply to all people in Bali, including tourists. Do not expect any facilities or services to be operating. Stay in your hotel and respect the silence.
https://www.villa-bali.com/guide/nyepi-bali-2024-guide/
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Claim 5: “He was arrested in March after the video sparked widespread anger among Balinese on social media.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm Zgraggen was arrested in March following the circulation of the video on social media and the subsequent anger it caused.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, was arrested in March after footage of him walking to an empty beach during Nyepi circulated on social media. The video was later removed.
https://uz.kursiv.media/en/2026-08-21/swiss-tourist-jailed-f…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Zgraggen was arrested after the video he shared caused anger among Balinese people on social media. Nyepi is an annual Balinese holiday, also known as the Day of Silence, when people maintain silence,…
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/swiss-tourist-luzian-andrin-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Swiss tourist Luzian Andrin Zgraggen who is accused of insulting the Balinese Hinduism's sacred Day of Silence in social media posts, covers his face as he leaves the courtroom after his sentencing he…
https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/southeast-asia/swiss-tour…
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Claim 6: “Entertainment events are restricted and even the use of electricity is discouraged.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that entertainment is restricted and the use of electricity is discouraged during the holiday.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Nyepi is a Hindu holiday that usually takes place in March. For 24 hours, the Hindu-majority island largely comes to a standstill, with work, travel, public entertainment and electricity use discourag…
https://petapixel.com/2026/08/25/tourist-sentenced-to-one-ye…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Entertainment is restricted, even the use of electricity is discouraged, and residents stock up on food beforehand so they can stay indoors. The rules apply to everyone on the island whatever their re…
https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/southeast-asia/swiss-tour…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — On Nyepi, four main prohibitions, known as Catur Brata Penyepian, are observed: no lighting fires or using electricity, no working, no traveling, and no entertainment. Tourists are expected to minimiz…
https://bigtreejewelryclasses.com/preparing-for-nyepi-a-guid…
help
Claim 7: “Tourists have previously been detained or deported for violating Nyepi restrictions.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided for this claim.
info
Claim 8: “Last year it welcomed a record seven million international visitors.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one source mentions that Bali welcomed a record seven million international visitors last year; no other provided evidence corroborates this specific number.
info
Claim 9: “On Nyepi, which fell on 19 March this year, Zgraggen filmed himself breaking the ban on going out”
SINGLE SOURCE
The evidence provided for this claim consists of German smartphone trade-in services, which is completely irrelevant to the claim about Zgraggen and Nyepi.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Du findest uns in ganz Deutschland – auch in deiner Nähe sind wir persönlich für dich da. In Ergänzung zu unserem Onlineshop hast du so die Sicherheit, immer die richtigen Fachberater vor Ort zu haben…
https://www.euronics.de/aktionen/trade-in
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Bestellen Sie jetzt ein neues Smartphone bei 1&1 und erhalten Sie eine attraktive Tauschprämie für Ihr Altgerät je nach Gerätewert. Senden Sie Ihr altes Handy einfach innerhalb von 30 Tagen nach Erhal…
https://mobile.1und1.de/handy-verkaufen
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Entdecke die smarte Art für dein Tech-Upgrade. Kaufe oder nutze das Trade-in für die neuesten Smartphones, Earbuds und Tablets auf HandySwap. Tolle Deals und ein einfacher Austausch warten auf dich!
https://handyswap.com/de-de/
check_circle
Claim 10: “On Nyepi, the island's airport shuts down and internet access is restricted.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that the airport closes and internet access is restricted or suspended during Nyepi.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — First time in Bali? Nyepi Bali 2026 completely shuts down the island: airport closed, no flights, no beach access, no mobile data.During this 24-hour period, Bali observes complete stillness, includin…
https://www.themulia.com/blog/nyepi-bali-2026-guide-airport-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Bali’s airport closes during the observance while entertainment venues are shut and the use of electricity is restricted. Internet access is also suspended as part of the island-wide restrictions.
https://uz.kursiv.media/en/2026-08-21/swiss-tourist-jailed-f…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — With this in mind, Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport will be closed, roads will be closed, and in some parts of the province, the electricity and internet connection will be completely t…
https://thebalisun.com/tourists-must-account-for-balis-inter…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.