Myanmar ‘Buddha Insult’ Trial: Men Plead Not Guilty
You didn’t know that there are fundamentalist Buddhists who will imprison you for their equivalent to blasphemy?
A New Zealander and two Burmese men have pleaded not guilty to charges of insulting Buddhism in Myanmar.
The trio, who ran a bar in Yangon, are accused over a flyer promoting a drinks event depicting Buddha with headphones.
The image triggered an angry response online shortly after it appeared on the bar’s Facebook page.
Burmese law makes it illegal to insult or damage any religion. Myanmar, also known as Burma, has seen growing Buddhist nationalism in recent years.
The flyer from VGastro Bar showed Buddha with his eyes shut, wearing large headphones, and surrounded by lurid colours.