Naomi Coleman, a 37-year-old British citizen, was arrested and is awaiting deportation from the country of Sir Lanka because of a tattoo on her arm depicting the Buddha. Even though she told authorities that she is a practicing Buddhist, who has attended meditation retreats in several countries, they still thought the tattoo was disrespectful to other people’s religious beliefs, and decided the best thing to do is send her packing.
Naomi Coleman, a 37-year-old British citizen, was arrested and is awaiting deportation from the country of Sri Lanka because of a tattoo on her arm depicting the Buddha.
Even though she told authorities that she is a practicing Buddhist, who has attended meditation retreats in several countries, they still thought the tattoo was disrespectful to other people’s religious beliefs, and decided the best thing to do is send her packing.
Coleman successfully cleared passport control at the Bandaranaike International Airport in the capital city of Colombo with the tattoo fully visible, but she was arrested after a taxi driver noticed the offensive ink while she was loading her luggage.
She is being held at an immigration camp after seeing a judge, and being ordered to fly back to the United Kingdom.
In a similar case, authorities in Sri Lanka reportedly denied another British citizen entry into the country also because he had a Buddha tattoo.
Around 70 percent of the 20 million people that live in Sri Lanka are Theravada Buddhists, and some militant sects have reportedly lashed out violently against Christians and Muslims over the past year.
UK Travel advice for Sri Lanka says not to pose for pictures in front of Buddhist statues.
