Myanmar sends Dutch man to prison for stopping Buddhist ritual

A court in Myanmar sentenced 30-year-old Dutchman Klaas Haytema to three months in prison for insulting religion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms. Two weeks ago Haytema disrupted a Buddhist sermon by unplugging a loudspeaker broadcasting it. The Dutch man was also given a 105 dollar fine, which he already paid. He also already apologized for his actions, AD reports. According to the man himself, he was trying to sleep but could not over the noise. So he went outside and pulled the plug of the loudspeaker, not realizing that it was a sermon or that he was in a religious building. Insulting religion is considered a very serious charge in the mostly Buddhist community of Myanmar. It can carry a prison sentence of up to two years.