Myanmar: New Zealander jailed for insulting Buddha in online ad
Philip Blackwood is taken to jail
A Myanmar court Tuesday sentenced a New Zealand bar manager and his business associates to 2 1/2 years in prison for insulting Buddhism in an online advertisement that showed a psychedelic depiction of Buddha wearing headphones.
Philip Blackwood, 32, Tun Thurein and Htut Ko Ko Lwin were given two years of hard labor for insulting religion and six months for disobeying an order from a public servant.
After the sentencing, Blackwood said he would appeal.
The trial of V Gastro manager Blackwood, bar owner Tun Thurein and employee Htut Ko Ko Lwin came as Myanmar grapples with a surge of religious nationalism, including violence against members of the country’s minority Muslim community.
“The verdict is fair. This punishment will deter others from insulting Buddhism or other religions,” said Paw Shwe, a member of a Buddhist organisation.
The three were arrested in December after the image was used to promote the tapas bar and lounge, and have been detained in Myanmar’s notorious Insein prison. The online ad was removed and an apology was posted.
Rights groups condemned the verdict as an assault on freedom of expression and called for the release of the three.
Source:: Indian Express
