YANGON — Two employees and the manager of a Yangon bar shut down for using image of the Buddha wearing headphones to promote an event appeared in court Thursday to face charges of insulting Buddhism.
General manager Philip Blackwood, 32, owner Tun Thurein, 40, and manager Htut Ko Ko Lwin, 26, were charged with blasphemy over the "inappropriate use of a Buddha image. The bar was shuttered Dec 11 after a complaint by an official from Myanmar's Religious Department, police said.
Management of a Yangon bar used this an image of the Buddha wearing headphones in a promotional poster, landing the owners in jail and getting the bar closed.
Anyone found guilty of insulting any religion in Myanmar can be punished by up to two years in jail, according to the Religion Act. Mr Blackwood, a New Zealander, could also be deported, lawyers said.
It was their first court appearance since they were arrested and denied bail.
The V Gastro Bar published a multi-coloured flyer online on Dec 11 showing the Buddha wearing a pair of large earphones to promote a musical event the following weekend. The bar, which only opened the previous week, was shut down by authorities and the three suspects arrested.
The flyer image has been removed from the Facebook post and replaced with an apology.
The court set the next hearing for Dec 26.