Swiss diplomats accredited to Myanmar have contacted the local authorities, after the arrest of a Swiss citizen accused of preparing and directing a film that violates the “morals and dignity” of the Buddhist religion.
In response to Agence France-Presse’s request for comment, a spokeswoman said via e-mail Saturday that “the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been informed of this case. An investigation is underway. The diplomatic mission in the country is in contact with the relevant authorities,” without revealing further information.
In a statement, the ruling military group indicated that Didier Nussbaumer, 52, was arrested on August 8 after publishing in July on the YouTube and TikTok platforms a film that “insults the morals and dignity of Buddhist monks.”
The statement added that the 75-minute film contains scenes in which “a young woman used obscene and insulting expressions against Buddhist culture and traditions by violating the virtues of monks.”
Thirteen people who worked on this film were also arrested for “acting negligently (…) to offend the morals and dignity of the monks.”
The military group confirmed that “measures will be taken against those arrested,” without mentioning that Nussbaumer had been detained.
Buddhists make up the largest percentage of Myanmar’s population, and monks and prayer are an integral part of their daily life.
In 2016, the judiciary in Myanmar sentenced a Dutch tourist to three months in prison for insulting religion when he got fed up with the noise coming from a group practicing religious rituals in a Buddhist temple, so he went to the temple and cut the wires connected to the external loudspeakers, in the city of Mandalay.
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2023-08-19 15:34:46
